Time is running out to cast your vote in the first ever Welsh Youth Parliament election. We caught up with a few young people from Conwy Youth Council and asked them why they think taking part in the Welsh Youth Parliament election is important.
Here’s what Richard Jones had to say:
“I firmly believe having a Youth Parliament is very important. It is the perfect way to involve young people in democracy and making their voices heard. It is a brilliant idea by the Welsh Assembly as it finally gives young people the chance to stand up for the youth of their area and make sure their ideas are heard by everyone. I feel that it will also prepare any future politicians for their potential career as it will give them experience in debating others and working together for the good of everyone.
I have been on the Conwy Youth Council for over a year now and during that time I have been able to work with people from all ages and backgrounds on a number of exciting projects. I have also been honoured to represent the youth council on the North Wales Voice which has been an enjoyable experience in getting to know other young people. It is important to register and vote because it is your youth parliament and you should have the decision of who you want to elect because that person will ultimately be standing up for you.”
Voting will only take two minutes of your time! Simply follow the link sent to your email and vote for the young person who you believe will best represent you.
Derwen Fay is 15 and home-educated. Here’s what he had to say:
“My interest in politics led me to join the Conwy Youth Council this year. Conwy Youth Council is a great environment for debate and conversation, working towards an end goal, for example a poster, a video or a message for highlighting issues which affect young people in our area.
Over the last year we’ve looked at drug and alcohol awareness as our topic. In that time we had meetings with North Wales Police, CAIS and other organizations to talk about the issues surrounding the topic. At the end of the year with the help of a graphic designer we made a poster raising awareness of the issue for young people.
This year we are focusing on internet safety which is very exciting for us as it's a changing environment which is particularly relevant to young people. Leading on from my involvement with the Conwy Youth Council I found out about the Welsh Youth Parliament and decided to stand as a candidate.
I was inspired to do this because I feel strongly that young people should have a voice in the democratic process. The Welsh Youth Parliament will finally give the young people of Wales a chance to elect a representative that cares about the issues that matter to them. It gives young people a pathway to engage with politics and encourages them to learn about the democratic process in a very real way.
It empowers the young people of Wales to be able to have a voice in shaping the Wales of the future. If you’re not voting then you are throwing away your opportunity to shape the future of our country because politics affects everyone.”
