Wednesday 19 February is an exciting day for a group of Scouts and young people outside of Scouting as they stand in the shoes of Welsh government, by taking part in a Model Senedd ( a Welsh Youth Parliament).
ScoutsCymru has worked closely with the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA), and the Welsh Government to create an experience where young people can learn more about the powers the Senedd has. For participants it’s about understanding both the process of democracy and having a chance to present the crucial issues that they care about.
Presenting a resolution means formally proposing a motion for debate and decision-making by Senedd members. A resolution typically sets out a specific action, policy, or statement that the Senedd is asked to agree upon. Young people from across Wales have researched what they want to propose and during the day we’ll hear resolutions from Pembrokeshire to Cardiff, from North Wales to South. Participants will hear from Lee Waters MS Welsh Labour Minister for the Llanelli constituency who has kindly sponsored the event, and Lynne Neagle MS; Cabinet Secretary for Education.
In Wales you can register to vote at 14 and aged 16 you get the power to be able to cast your vote and have your say. Understanding democracy and what is means is a vital part of building skills for life. Finding your voice and being able to express your own opinion is at the crux of Scouting. Every week in Scout huts across Wales, children as young as 5 are learning about democracy through Scouting. We advocate that whoever you are, whatever your background you have the right to be heard.
We talk about being youth-shaped and that means putting young people at the heart of everything we do. At the most basic level we invite young people to start by giving an opinion on the activities they might want to get involved with. In Beavers that might mean expressing a view on dodgeball or football at the start of an evening session, older young people might vote for trips or badges that they want to do. As they progress through Scouting young people have many opportunities to represent their community. Badge work allows young people to find out more about laws and democracy in their local area. We even have a democracy badge!
This ScoutsCymru Welsh Youth Parliament event has been championed by Lee Waters MS, who represents Llanelli in the Welsh Parliament. Lee has actively engaged in discussions concerning young people and politics. He has participated in joint sessions between the Welsh Parliament and the Welsh Youth Parliament, where young members present their recommendations to the government. In these sessions, Welsh Youth Parliament Members have expressed the importance of the government acting on their proposals, highlighting the Youth Parliament as a vital source for understanding the aspirations of Wales’s younger generation.
So, who knows what might change because our day in the Senedd! Keep tuned on social channels throughout the day for updates.
