Last month, young people across Wales voted for the candidates they wanted to represent their areas in the Welsh Youth Parliament.

Nearly 300 candidates, all aged between 11 and 17-years-old, put their names forward for election – with the 60 new Youth Parliament Members being confirmed earlier this month.

But what actually is the Youth Parliament, and who will be representing young people in Caerphilly County Borough?

How does the Welsh Youth Parliament work?

Each of the 40 Senedd constituencies in Wales elects one Youth Parliament Member, with a further 20 Youth Parliament Members elected by a variety of organisations to ensure a diverse representation.

Youth Parliament Members are elected for two-year terms, with the first and most recent election taking place back in 2018.

Youth Parliament Members work with each other, Members of the Senedd and young people in their communities to discuss and raise awareness of issues affecting young people, such as education and mental health.

While the Welsh Youth Parliament doesn’t have any powers to pass legislation or make laws, it can help raise awareness of issues affecting young people and ensure their voices are heard.

History of the Welsh Youth Parliament

In October 2016, Senedd Members voted in favour of creating the Welsh Youth Parliament.

The first Youth Parliament election took place in December 2018.

The second Youth Parliament election took place in November 2021, with the winning candidates announced on December 1 following a vote, in which young people aged 11 to 17 were able to vote.

Who represents me in the Youth Parliament?

Harriet Wright-Nicholas, 15, was elected to represent the Caerphilly constituency, while Maddie Mai Malpas, who is also 15, was elected to represent Islwyn.

Another 15-year-old, Andrew Millar, was elected in the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney seat.

Across Wales, a further 20 Youth Parliament Members are chosen by partner organisations, to ensure a diverse mix of representatives within the parliament. Four of these members represent the South Wales East region – in which Caerphilly, Islwyn and Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney are a part.

The regional members are:

• Ffred Hayes – Digon Group
• Milly Floyd Evans – NYAS
• Fiona Garbutt – Girlguiding Cymru
• Hanna Mahamed – Race Council Cymru

Why did the candidates stand and what issues matter to them?

Caerphilly’s new Youth Parliament Member Harriet Wright-Nicholas, who attends Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni’s Y Gwyndy campus, said she chose to stand in the election to have a say in what goes on in the community.

Harriet told Caerphilly Observer: “As a young person, we don’t have much say in what happens.

“We’re the future. People who are older than us make all the decisions. These decisions impact us and we have no say.”

Harriet said air pollution was among the issues that matter most to her, alongside more affordable opportunities for young people.

She said: “Many young people from poorer backgrounds miss out on expensive school trips or hobbies. More young people from poorer backgrounds need to be able to have access to this. We need to open more doors.”

Harriet also said she wants more school e-books translated into Welsh – something she said she has spoken with other Youth Parliament Members about.

“I want to collect ideas from my school and the community and make sure voices are heard. I’m really excited to be able to work with likeminded people and push for change on the issues that matter to us.”

Meanwhile, Maddie Mai Malpas, who attends Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni’s Gellihaf campus, decided to stand for election after taking a close interest in the work of the Youth Parliament Election during its last term.

Maddie Mai said she was “elated” after her election and added: “I wanted to get involved because it’s important for young people to have a voice.

“As young people, we are the future and the decisions that are made affect us.”

Maddie Mai said mental health and wellbeing, as well as physical and sporting opportunities for all, were among the issues that matter most to her, alongside the Welsh language.

She said a large number of young people felt passionate about the language, and pointed to the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy – which hopes to reach one million Welsh speakers in Wales by the year 2050. Maddie Mai said she feels young people have a responsibility to achieve that goal.

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney’s new Youth Senedd Member, Andrew Millar, said: “I’ve always been one to help out in the community ever since I was little. I stood for the Youth Parliament because I wanted to try something different.

“It’s important for young people, especially those in secondary school, to have their voices heard. I’m hoping to be able to express young people’s views in parliament and make sure there’s an advocate for them in the community.”

Andrew, who attends Cyfarthfa High School in Merthyr Tydfil, said his main issues of interest are the school curriculum, where he would like to see more life skills added, as well as mental health.

He said: “Mental health is not a taboo subject anymore, but we still need to reduce the stigma.”

“It allows Wales’ young people to set the agenda”

The Llywydd (Presiding Officer) of the Senedd, Elin Jones MS, said it is “crucial” for young people to have an opportunity to get involved in Welsh democracy.

She said: “The Welsh Youth Parliament provides a fantastic platform for voices and perspectives that are often ignored. It allows Wales’ young people to set the agenda and focus on what matters to them.

“The Welsh Youth Parliament has been a huge success and I’m sure the Members elected will be a credit to their constituents and all young people across Wales during this term.”

Caerphilly’s Labour Senedd Member Hefin David described the Youth Parliament is an “important part of the structure of the Senedd”.

Dr David said: “The newly-elected representatives will play a key role in gathering the views of young people and ensuring their voices are heard in the Senedd by those in power.

“I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all the newly elected representatives and I especially look forward to working with Harriet as the new Youth Parliament Member for Caerphilly.

Conservative MS Natasha Asghar, who represents South Wales East, described the Youth Parliament as a “great opportunity for young people to get involved in politics and be a voice for the change they want to see”.

She added: “It is fantastic to see it consist of people from such diverse backgrounds and I hope it will encourage more young people irrespective of race, religion, gender or sexuality to consider getting actively involved in public life.”

“I wish the Welsh Youth Parliament well and am confident it will prove a great success.”