Easter meeting

At this month's meeting we fed back from Jane Hutt's Spring Breakfast which put an emphasis on apprenticeships in STEM areas. We also talked about the Emoji's project presentation evening and the Healthy and Safe event to which we had sent a video explaining the importance of supporting young people affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

We discussed our attendance at the Carwyn Connect evening and discussed our views on increasing the use of the Welsh language through pride and inspiration rather than force.  We are also pleased we have been asked to write the foreword for the Trans Inclusion Toolkit which is being developed by the Council.  And we are excited to be invited to a youth exchange this summer in Fecamp.

At tonight's meeting we completed the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales' SenseMaker Survey, discussing the main challenges facing Wales in the future and looking at the 4 challenges that have been identified by the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.  We also discussed the results of the Youth Satisfaction Survey and we are beginning to write a report on our findings.

Carwyn Connect

Three youth cabinet members had the opportunity to attend Carwyn Connect in Barry and had the chance to take part in a Q&A session with the First Minister.  The room was packed and with protesters outside the building protesting the new incinerator in Barry we knew it would be an interesting evening!  Although the incinerator was a hot topic we all had the opportunity to ask our questions to the First Minister:

1. Does the assembly have plans to aid in the day to day integration of the Welsh language in our country? 
2. Will there be any changes regarding how the Welsh Government / National Assembly is run due to the recent triggering of article 50?
3. What are the Assembly's plans for introducing votes at 16 especially with the new Wales Bill, and how is the assembly going to ensure that young people have sufficient political knowledge to enable them to vote?  

And here's an overview of what the First Minister responded: 

1. The biggest challenge is young people speaking Welsh outside a school environment.  We've been successful in getting more children to go to Welsh schools but not speak outside them in a natural way.  We've opened after school clubs for a more natural environment.
2. We can't change the vote and the best thing to do is to work hard on maintaining the Welsh identity.  What will happen to the UK is unsure and is really in the hands of other countries like Germany.  There will be no immediate change to the Senedd so far.  
3. A vote will be held in the Senedd to allow 16 year olds to vote.  'Fake News' makes it difficult for young people to be genuinely informed.  A worry is that young people will make and form their political beliefs from poor sources.  This does not just affect young people but all ages.