Carmarthenshire Youth Look Back At The Past Year

Young people across Carmarthenshire got together at the Youth Council’s Annual General Meeting. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They also took the opportunity to share their views on various issues with senior officers from the county council’s education and children’s services directorate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole presented Millennium Volunteer certificates to some of the young people present, while education and children’s services director Rob Sully handed out Young People’s Participation certificates to Carmarthenshire Youth Council (CYC) members. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the past year, the CYC has looked at subjects such as bullying, domestic abuse, and voting at 16; whilst 14-year-old Alisha Gibbons represented Carmarthenshire at the House of Commons, debating issues affecting young people in Carmarthenshire and across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Offices elected at the AGM, which took place in the Chamber at County Hall, were Bobby Lewis as vice chair, Alisha was re-elected to represent Carmarthenshire as a UK Youth Parliament candidate, Gwen Griffiths as communications officer, Harriet Alsop-Bingham as secretary, and Brittany Alsop-Bingham was elected as chair. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Brittany aged 18 said: “It’s been a really busy year for us and we are proud of the work we have achieved, we hope to continue our good work in the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I hope that in 2016 Carmarthenshire Youth Council can rise to the challenge of becoming an all-inclusive voice for young people in our county and make a real difference for young people’s lives.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Education and children’s services executive board member Cllr Gareth Jones spoke at the meeting and praised the work of the Youth Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jones said: “The Youth Council is a credit to Carmarthenshire, I would like to pay tribute to these young people who are prepared to stand up and give the youth of our county a voice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is vitally important that we listen to their views and consider them when taking decisions that affect the future of Carmarthenshire.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire Youth Council is a group of people aged between 11 and 25 who act as a voice for youngsters across the county. New members are always welcome. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​