Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a Member of the Senedd and to vote on decisions which affect people in Wales? ScoutsCymru is delighted to have received funding from the Welsh Government to be able to offer young people in Wales the chance to do exactly that with our very first Model Senedd.
Taking place on Wednesday 19 February 2025, this is a hands-on experience designed to help young people learn about the democratic process in Wales.
ScoutsCymru has worked closely with the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA) and the Welsh Government to create an experience where Scouts and Explorers will learn more about the powers the Senedd has to make laws over key areas of Welsh life, and how those decisions are made. The event is sponsored by Lee Waters MS.
Participants will take on the role of a Member of Senedd (MS), representing their area and discussing issues that matter to them. They will discover how different issues affect where they live and compare it to other regions in Wales. They will prepare a speech sharing how the issue can be improved, and then debate, negotiate and vote on proposed solutions – just like our elected Welsh representatives do.
Find out how to apply here, learn more about what being a part of a Model Senedd involves here.
You can find the above resources in Welsh, here and here.
Fill in the application form here.
Taking part in the Model Senedd is a great way for young people to work towards the ScoutsCymru Democracy Challenge Badge – plus we have lots of other ideas to help young people from all sections to achieve that badge and to understand more about why their opinions matter.
Read on for details of free online training to help leaders of all sections deliver the Democracy Challenge Badge to their young people. You’ll also find out how Squirrels can now earn the Democracy Challenge award for the first time, plus we have news of a new funding scheme to support events and activities that will help 14-18 year olds achieve the badge.
In addition to the Model Senedd, ScoutsCymru is delighted to launch the Democracy Challenge Badge Fund to support group activities that help young people aged 14 to 18 achieve their Democracy Challenge Badge.
The fund is specifically for activities for young people aged 14 to 18, meaning only Scout groups with one or more members who are 14, and Explorer groups are eligible to apply, although the activities can include members aged under 14 too.
Your group could use the funds to visit a government building, such as the Senedd, Houses of Parliament, or local town hall to provide participants with first-hand experience of the democratic process. Or you could use the funding to arrange a meeting with your local representative such as a Member of Parliament (MP), a Member of the Senedd (MS), or a local councillor. We are also open to ideas on other educational and civic engagement activities which relate to the Democracy Challenge Badge requirements. If you’re successful, you can also use the fund to purchase the badges for your young people.
Funding amounts will be determined based on the specific needs of the group and the type of activity planned. Groups may receive partial funding based on the availability of funds and the number of applications received.
The ScoutsCymru Democracy Challenge Badge was created in conjunction with The Electoral Commission Wales. It helps young people from four to 18 discover more about the democratic process in Wales and the UK and how to use their voice to affect change.
Find out more about who can apply for the Democracy Challenge Badge Fund here (click here to access this document in Welsh) and apply for funding via the application form here.
The funding will remain open until March 31 2025 or until all funds have been allocated. All activities must take place by 31 March 2025.
If you’re a leader considering running the ScoutsCymru Democracy Challenge Badge with your section, we’d love to invite you to a free training session which will give you the tools needed to deliver the badge.
Working in partnership with The Politics Project and The Electoral Commission Wales, the 90 minute session will be filled with practical advice and activity ideas suitable for leaders of all sections, from Squirrels to Explorers.
You’ll get:
The training will help leaders become more confident in delivering the badge activities, as well as discussing politics and democracy with young people in general.
The online training, which is suitable for leaders of all Scouting sections, takes place on Tuesday 26 November, Wednesday 29 January and Thursday 13 March.
Click here for more information on the free Democracy Challenge badge training for leaders.
ScoutsCymru believes you’re never too young to know that your opinion matters – which is why we’re thrilled to announce that Squirrels can now earn our popular ScoutsCymru Democracy Engagement Badge.
ScoutsCymru has worked with the Electoral Commission Wales to create a fun and engaging new badge which helps Squirrels, the Scouting section for four to six year olds, learn that everyone has a voice.
Squirrels at 1st Gwydyr recently piloted the badge, with leader Kate Reeves saying: “Offering your opinion, or even having an opinion, comes with age and confidence for a lot of children so the badge is a great way of starting to introduce the idea that you can have your own opinion, and it’s not wrong or right, whilst also encouraging children to listen to other opinions and views.”
Read more about the new ScoutsCymru Democracy Engagement Badge for Squirrels.
