Six youngsters from from the Caerphilly Youth Forum took part in recently in a national debate in the House of Commons.
They joined more than 300 young people aged between 11 and 18 from across the country as Members of Youth Parliament.
Caerphilly’s members of Youth Parliament were: Paige Cherrington, 13, from Risca Comprehensive, Rose Marie Davies, 14, from Barnardos Young Carers, Ashley-May Williams,15, of Phillipstown Community House, Jenna Leigh Williams, 17, of Co-option, Charlene Pendry,19, from Senghenyyd Youth Drop In Centre and Jordan Rees, 13, from Basement Information Network
The six were accompanied to Westminster by youth workers Clare Jones and Caroline Millington from Caerphilly Youth Forum.
Issues debated in the chamber included the cost of university, sex education in schools and the war in Afghanistan.
The five issues and the vote results were:
- Should sex and relationships education be compulsory from primary school onwards? FOR-211 and AGAINST-104
- Should university tuition fees rise? FOR-57 and AGAINST-267
- Should the school leaving age be raised to 18 immediately in order to lower youth unemployment? FOR-56 and AGAINST-271
- Should we withdraw all British troops from Afghanistan by 2012? FOR-137 and AGAINST-179
- Should reduced transport fares for young people be protected from spending cuts? FOR-239 and AGAINST-80