Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru

Bore da, Llywydd. My name is Ben Harris, and I'm the Welsh Youth Parliament Member for Delyn. I'm delighted to have been asked by the transport committee to update the Youth Parliament on our work so far this term. I thank my fellow members of the committee and the Senedd staff who, for reasons unknown to God or man, think I can be trusted to stand and talk about trains and not go over time—yes, good luck with that.

So, I've been asked, ‘Why is transport a priority for this Youth Parliament? Why is it being made a priority when we've got such gripping issues like poverty and crime affecting Wales?’ As a committee, we acknowledge that fighting poverty is far more important than improving transport, but, my friends, the two issues do not contradict each other; we can do both and we should do both.

We've seen very good news regarding transport by the Welsh Government. To a man, as a committee, we're delighted by the £1 cap on bus fares, and it's important to note that this was a recommendation by previous Welsh Youth Parliament transport reports. Whilst we can't claim full credit for convincing the Welsh Government—we give Jane Dodds and Ken Skates their fair share—it's always refreshing to see the priorities of the Welsh Government reflect the priorities of the Welsh Youth Parliament.

As a committee, our report is going to focus on accessibility—accessibility through cost, accessibility through safety and accessibility through overcoming other barriers. Now, my friend Bryn is going to lead us through accessibility through cost, and my friend Zjackaria is going to lead us through the next steps for this committee. However, it falls to me to discuss how we're going to improve accessibility through safety and accessibility through overcoming other barriers.

Regarding safety, it's fairly simple, my friends: if you do not feel safe onboard a train or onboard a bus, then you will not travel, and that is unacceptable. Trains and buses can't compete with cars and taxis in every field, but they can, should and must be able to compete on safety. The fact that this is not already a priority is disgraceful.

These other barriers I mentioned, they're a bit more complicated—they're a more rural issue, which is why it falls to me, as a north Wales Member of this Parliament, to discuss them. Many of my constituents in Delyn face quite long walks to the nearest bus stop because public transport just doesn't reach all of the communities it should. Towns like Mold and Holywell, which should be connected to the railway network, are not. Once they get to these far-off bus stops, many of my constituents face long waits for the next bus. Some buses run only every two hours. The small village of Tafarn-y-gelyn in Denbighshire sees only two buses a day, despite being on the T8 TrawsCymru route—a route sponsored by the Welsh Government. The barrier of frequency is not confined to our bus network—it reaches to the railways too. If you're in Aberystwyth, you might see a train every two hours along the Cambrian line. The Conwy valley line and the Heart of Wales line are even worse. One more barrier that we must overcome is that of capacity. How often have we seen a train with only two carriages? How often has a Transport for Wales train been full and standing only? Colleagues, this is not acceptable. 

Very shortly, you'll have the pleasure of hearing me stop speaking, and Zjackaria is going to lead us on the next steps for this committee. Suffice it to say, we will research the issues by talking to young people, and we will research the solutions by talking to young people, Ministers, transport companies and local authorities. But, first, I must hand you over to my friend Bryn, who's going to give you a much better speech in a much more beautiful language regarding the cost of public transport. Diolch, Llywydd. Thank you, colleagues.

Presently, public transport does not seem to be enough of a viable option.

Zjackaria Meah is next. You're the representative of Neath, Castell-nedd.

Diolch, Llywydd. It's an honour to be here.

In our recent committee meetings, we’ve had many discussions around what our top three priorities as a committee will be from the wide list of issues that have been mentioned earlier. The discussions are still ongoing, but the issue that came up the most was that we should improve accessibility on buses and trains. Transport must be affordable, reliable and accessible for all young people.

Transport is not just about travelling; it is about being able to get to school, college, work and healthcare. We believe transport should be affordable, reliable and easy for everyone to use. Secondly, we should strengthen rural services in north, mid and west Wales, the areas that are deprived the most from this transport. Reliable transport is crucial for rural communities and must meet local needs. Young people in these communities often face long waits, limited services, and sometimes no service at all. Your postcode shouldn't decide what chances you get. Reliable transport is essential to making sure that everyone has equal opportunities.

Thirdly, safety on public transport is a key priority for our committee. We believe that public transport should be safe and comfortable for all young people to use, and anti-social behaviour should be tackled. Young people should feel safe when they are travelling, no matter the time of day or where they live. In my ideal future, I also wish that public transport were a safer and more accessible choice, so that people can be more connected and can travel without worrying if they will be safe or if the service is on time.

Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that the right to education is for all children, making primary education compulsory, and transport should not be a barrier to this. After today's meeting, we’ll be speaking with experts, including Transport for Wales, to explore the best ways forward. We have also written to the Cabinet Secretary for transport, Ken Skates, to ask for an update on the recommendations of the previous Youth Parliament's report, ‘Sustainable Ways’, and we look forward to the Cabinet Secretary's response. Diolch, Llywydd.

Diolch, Llywydd. Bore da, pawb. My name is Taliesin Evans, and I am representing both Torfaen and the cost-of-living and poverty committee, speaking to you today about why I chose it as an option. It is, of course, a privilege to be speaking in the Welsh Youth Parliament once again. I personally believe that this is the most important committee by far, as the increase in the cost of living has affected us all at some point in our lives, whether that be from noticing the higher prices of everything, from food to homes and from clothes to public transport—not one of us can say that we have truly avoided it.

It felt imperative to me to choose this as the committee to represent, as Torfaen is one of the most economically deprived counties in the entirety of Wales. There are a significant amount of people who I know, some very close friends of mine, that are currently on free school meals. I would like to also welcome the Labour Party's proposal for the removal of the two-child benefit cap. I do personally think this is a bit late, but a phenomenal step in the right direction for the amelioration of child poverty.

Evidence from Torfaen itself shows that Abersychan comprehensive school, which has the highest number of children on free school meals, consistently has the lowest GCSE results in the county, while St Alban’s RC High School, with the fewest children on free school meals, achieves the best results by far, and some of the best in Wales. This pattern, to put it lightly, is damning. From my father's experience as a teacher for about 25 years, I know that these outcomes are not due to the quality of teaching, but the ongoing cycle of poverty. Investing in economic development in severely deprived areas, especially in the north of Torfaen, where I'm from, would help to support families now and strengthen opportunities for generations to come.

I will now hand over to Chase, and he will talk about what we have been up to as a committee. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Chase Campbell, Blaenau Gwent Member. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Bore da, I'm Chase Campbell, the Welsh Youth Parliament Member for Blaenau Gwent. The cost-of-living and child poverty crisis is of particular importance to me and my constituents, as young people who have grown up in the shadow of Welsh industrial decline, poverty and deprivation, which impact every aspect of our lives. From getting to school every day to wider social mobility issues, finances are often the biggest barrier to young people in Blaenau Gwent and across our country.

Since our first meeting back in February, our committee has met several times regionally to discuss and share our ideas for how we can play our role in combating a crisis that goes far beyond our power. Through our imminent report next year, I do hope we can make an impact and influence the Government to make policies that have us as a priority rather than a second thought. So, what topics did we cover? Well, we covered a range of perspectives, including the educational maintenance allowance and how the positive impacts it brings can be expanded, foodbanks and how they’ve become a necessity for ever more Welsh families, the provision and potential expansion of free school meals, and the opportunities and support that a regeneration of youth clubs could bring to our country.

Wider issues that were raised during our meetings in Swansea, Newport, Conwy and across Wales were how tight finances can restrict our accessibility to travel, socialise and develop our social skills, leading to yet more missed opportunities playing a role in generational poverty. We also acknowledge that child poverty is statistically more prevalent for the young people of Wales than it is for the other British nations, with one in three children here experiencing poverty, and that we could possibly learn from the other nations' progress against this issue.

Of course, the issues that our committee are here to help tackle are vast, and so we cannot turn it around overnight. This is why we plan to narrow down our focus to find a realistic impartial solution for us to help improve the lives of thousands of young people across Cymru. Take, for example, a recommendation to rebirth our local youth clubs, to give young people a safe space to socialise, develop skills and gain access to invaluable opportunities to help them and, in turn, all of us, to make a Wales that is brighter, fairer and more prosperous for us all. Thank you. Diolch.

Grace Lee is next, the Member for Bridgend, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr. 

Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. I’m Grace and I represent Bridgend. I'll be discussing the next steps that the cost-of-living and poverty committee will be taking. I decided to join the cost-of-living and poverty committee because poverty is undoubtedly a massive problem throughout the country that needs to be tackled, especially by young people who are in a position like us. I care deeply about helping people who cannot help themselves, and I think we can all agree that help is exactly what's needed for thousands of people in Wales who face struggles with poverty every single day as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, especially young people.

Over the past few months during regional and online meetings, the cost-of-living and poverty committee has been working towards narrowing down the topics we have discussed to three key issues that we will continue to explore together. From these three issues, we will soon be choosing our main focus for the rest of the Welsh Youth Parliament's term.

One of these options is youth services. We discussed how we could improve links between schools and youth clubs in order to ensure consistency between education and free time for young people.

The second option would be housing. We've talked about how we could improve the affordability, quality and stability of housing for young people across Wales. As part of this, we have discussed how we could tackle homelessness as a Welsh Youth Parliament.

Our final option is establishing stable and healthy food support. We touched upon doing this through establishing free school meals in all schools, not just primaries, and working with foodbanks to implement more nutritious and locally sourced food into them for those who struggle to afford healthy food to receive.

These three options were the result of various conversations we had about regional differences in poverty and facilities, wages, employment and benefits, housing and energy costs, and financial support for students and young adults across Wales.

Shortly after the upcoming Senedd election, the cost-of-living and poverty committee will be deciding whether we will be focusing on youth services, housing or food support. This decision will be based on the discussions we have had during the past few meetings, and will have in the near future, as well as the main priorities of the future Welsh Government after the May election.

With our three potential future priorities in mind, the cost-of-living and poverty committee is looking forward to welcoming several external guest speakers today who are experts in their fields into our committee discussions this afternoon, to hear about some of the most recent reports from the Government and other cost-of-living crisis experts. Whichever issue the committee chooses to focus on in the near future, I am fully confident that we will progress greatly towards tackling poverty amongst young people in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.

Before we move on to the next item on the agenda, the 90-second statements, can I just welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Education to our midst as well? Thank you for making the time today. There was a session at the start of this event, Lynne, thanking me for my contribution to the Senedd Ieuenctid over the past three Youth Parliaments, but an ever-present participant with the Youth Parliament along that journey has been Lynne Neagle herself as a politician, in her various roles. I've stayed in the same role the whole time, but you've carried three roles, I think, in that time. You've carried the role of the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee during that first Youth Parliament, and then the Minister with responsibility for mental health, which was one of the aspects of work both Youth Parliaments undertook, and now you're the Cabinet Secretary for Education, and once again, taking an active interest in the work of young people here in Wales. A little known fact for you all: both Lynne Neagle and myself are probably the only two Members of the original Senedd in 1999 who will be contesting the 2026 elections. So, there are only two of us left from when we were first elected into this Chamber in 1999, as a National Assembly for Wales. So, thank you for attending today, and we'll hear from you later.

So, we are going on to the 90-second statements. The first one is Aelod Ynys Môn, Annest Tomos. 

Oliver Higgins is next, the Member for Ogmore.

Good morning, Members. I'm Oliver Higgins, the Member for Ogmore. Honourable Members, the winds of change, I think it's fair to say, are sweeping through Wales. It feels as though politics is having a tectonic shift not seen in a century. Although it is said of most elections, I think we would all agree, irrespective of varying political persuasions, next year will truly be the most important election in the quarter-century history of this legislature.

Again, irrespective of personal politics, we Members and the wider youth see, in most aspects of life, crisis and gloom. My speech on the state of agriculture months back highlighted the strife felt by young farmers in our country, yet also through the speeches made by the rest of you here. They displayed these feelings of crisis among the youth amidst poverty and public safety, to name a few issues. Thus, in such a winter of discontent we enter now, to not vote would negate a tradition of civic duty and remove any ability to complain against a Government ultimately given, no matter the rosette they wear. Even if no party or independent has convinced you their way, I advise you: spoil your vote, and still have your vote counted. Participate. And please think carefully on your vote. The future of our nation is in your hands, don't drop it at the first hurdle. Thank you.

Mirac Solmaz is next, the partner elected Member for Tros Gynnal Plant Cymru. 

Hello. My name is Mirac, I represent TGP Cymru. Being young means having fresh ideas, bold dreams, and the power to shape what comes next. Every vote is a voice, and when young people across Wales speak up together, people listen. Elections aren't just about ticking a box. They're about saying, 'This is my future, and I care about it.' That's why it's so important that we register, show up, and use our voice. Schools, colleges, and youth groups can make a huge difference by helping us understand how elections work, what's changing in the Welsh system, and why every single vote counts.

For me, it's about fairness, opportunity, and having our generation's ideas heard. When we vote, we're not just choosing leaders, we are choosing the kind of Wales we want to build. So, let's turn up, speak out, and shape our future, because our voices are stronger together, and it all starts with your vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Mirac. Aryan Gupta, the Member for Llanelli, is next, and the First Minister for the day—I've told you, you're sitting in the First Minister's chair. 

Diolch yn fawr. I would like to begin this by first of all stating how important this election is. I know many Members of this Welsh Youth Parliament are either part of a political party, not part of a political party, or will be like me, who is suffering from the rise of something called political homelessness, where we are isolated and have no idea who we want to vote for. We only care about policy, and not the alignment towards any party. To those who feel like me, I want to tell you this: please cast your vote. It is so essential for all of us to please cast our vote for this, because it is a rare opportunity where we get the youth to actually contribute towards an election that shapes our future.

Whether you want to stay in Wales, whether you want to go towards the UK or study abroad, your voice makes such a massive impact in this election. So, if you feel like me in this regard, I please advise you, look towards what parties have to offer. Look towards what they feel makes sense for you and your values, and make a conscious decision towards that vote. And please make sure that you are informed on it, that you have the right information, and that you take everything into account before you begin your voting process. It's a massive thing. It will be my first ever vote towards something. I'm incredibly nervous for it, but it's something that is so important towards every one of us who stands here today. Diolch yn fawr. Thank you very much.

My journey in politics started in a mock election in my school, Lampeter Comprehensive, in 1983. I won't tell you who I stood for in that election—it's slightly embarrassing for me these days—but I did win. 

Right, Jake Dillon is next, from sir Drefaldwyn. Jake.

Thank you, Llywydd. I am Jake Dillon and I represent Montgomeryshire. I will be speaking about an issue that I believe people should go out to vote for. In 1998, the Human Rights Act was passed into British law. It outlined fundamental rights that cannot be compromised. These include life, dignity and protection from inhumane treatment. To many of my constituents today, these rights are now under threat. This is because of the closure of Welshpool air ambulance base. This has left my community without rapid emergency care. To add insult to injury, there haven't been any A&E units in my area for over five years, with the closest A&E units being in Aberystwyth or Shrewsbury, which for some members of my community is over an hour’s drive away. Healthcare is a right that most of us take for granted. Now my constituents are being forced to wait an extra 30 minutes for air ambulance treatment under the current plans.

Where is the dignity in being made to wait defenceless for another area's healthcare to save you after you've had a horrific car accident or agricultural injury? To put it plainly, people are going to suffer and, unfortunately, die under these new approved plans. They are not fit for purpose. This is another example of decisions being made without thought of the affected places. Why is it always rural areas that are punished? Why are we always punished for not living in areas like Swansea, Cardiff and Wrexham? Why is it always our services that are first to be taken away from us? But, as young people, we can make our voices heard and make sure that disgraceful decisions like the closure of the air ambulance bases are better scrutinised and their effects better thought through. That is why I encourage all young people to go out and vote in next year's election and be aware of local issues so they can use that to cast their vote. Thank you.

Diolch, Jake. Tammi Tonge is next, and she's a partner member for Learning Disability Wales. Tammi.

Diolch, Llywydd. Hello, my name is Tammi Tonge, and I'm representing Learning Disability Wales. Today I want to talk about an issue that affects many lives: making sure that our public transport is accessible for disabled people. Day-to-day life can be more difficult for disabled people, like getting a bus to school or college every day. I get a bus every other day for free, but some students have to pay. This makes it harder for them to get to college as some can't afford it. When you reach the age of 19 years old, you normally have to pay for transport to school or college. But young people with a learning disability are more likely to be in school or college up to the age of 25. Many can't travel independently, so it’s not fair that they should have to pay to get to college. I believe young disabled people should have free transport up to the age of 25.

I also want to encourage young people with a learning disability to vote in the next Senedd election on 7 May 2026. It's really important for young disabled people to get involved and have their voices heard about things like education, transport and health. Learning Disability Wales has easy-read information about voting and elections on their website. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch, Tammi. Grace Oluwafemi is next, the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth. Grace.

Diolch. Young people of Wales, today I want to speak directly to you because you have the power to shape the future of our nation. Our generation understands the challenges ahead in a way no-one else does. We feel the pressure, the urgency and the hope for change and we know what truly matters. I reckon climate change is not a distant threat, it's happening now, shaping the world we will inherit. When you look at party manifestos, ask yourself: who is serious about protecting our planet, who has a real practical plan to confront the climate crisis? I reckon our future depends on those answers.

I reckon education is another issue that touches every part of our lives—student debt, tuition fees, access to training and opportunities. These things decide not only what we can achieve, but how freely we can build our futures. So, I reckon we should examine what each party says: would their promises support young people or place more barriers in our way? And I reckon they are the everyday struggles we talk about openly. Mental health, equality, secure jobs, affordable housing, digital rights, I reckon these are the foundations of a fair and modern Wales. They determine whether this country becomes a place where young people can thrive, where we can plan a future with confidence, not uncertainty.

But here is the most important truth: your vote matters. I reckon it is more than a right, it is a responsibility. It is your voice, your chance to shape the Wales you want to live in. No-one else can make that choice for you. So, take the time to read the manifestos, think about the issues that matters most to you. Vote for what reflects your values, your priorities and your hope. Your future truly is worth that effort.

And to the Senedd: I reckon you should listen to the young people of Wales. We are not just tomorrow's generation, we are today's, and we are demanding a future that works for all of us. Thank you.

Thank you Grace. Liz Bartlett is next, Member for Islwyn. 

There we go. Thank you, Callum. Bore da, pawb. I'm Liz Bartlett, the Member for Islwyn. I'd like to address this speech not only to the young people in this room, but to the young people watching on Senedd.tv, to the young people watching this as a clip on social media, to our constituents and to the young people of Wales.

Next year, on 7 May, the young people of Wales were given an opportunity to have our voices heard. Thanks to the new proportional voting system, a reduction in wasted votes, we will truly be able to influence Welsh politics. Our Senedd is responsible for devolved matters such as transport, education and health, and it's undergoing a transformation. I hope that you will take the time to learn about it.

I invite you to reach out to your Welsh Youth Parliament representative in your constituency or your partner organisation and to ask your school or college to invite the Senedd education team to visit. Remember, in Senedd elections, 16 and 17-year-olds have the right to vote, as well as many foreign nationals, and Senedd elections do not require a voter ID. Ultimately, as a resident of Wales, it's imperative that you research the candidates running in your constituency, and, as young people, we mustn't allow ourselves to be disenfranchised by simple ignorance, misunderstanding or lack of education. I implore you to register to vote on the gov.uk website and use your voice to create a better future for us all. Diolch.

Anna Martin is next, Member for Gower, Gŵyr.

Today, I would like to speak about the upcoming May elections, how we, as young people, have been given a purpose, a chance, an opportunity to have our say and cast our vote. Now, why is it vital that we act upon this? Well, participation in democracy has always been significant, and if we put faith not only into the hands of the democratic system, but into ourselves, we can make an impact on the future of our nation, the future of Wales. This is why it is important that we understand the changes being implemented into our electoral system.

So, I'd like to introduce these adjustments to you. Firstly, that there will now be 96 Members instead of 60, with the aim being to allow more equality and a more diverse Wales, especially as we, as a nation, now have a current population of 3.2 million, but also to make every vote count, which will better reflect the views of people across Wales. In order to facilitate this, by using a more proportional system, we will now be moving to larger multi-member constituencies, where voters with one vote will either vote for a political party or an independent. Your ballot paper will show the full list of candidates for your constituency, so you can see who you're voting for.

But we need to remember that change will work best when people understand it, which is why we need to educate not only ourselves, but also teach others about these changes, allowing everyone in our community to use their voice and their vote with confidence, ensuring that every voter in Wales knows how to take part, take their stand and embrace this opportunity. Diolch.

Diolch, Anna. The final word in this session goes to Callum Morrissey, Aelod Gorllewin Clwyd, Clwyd West.

Diolch, Llywydd. My name's Callum Morrissey, and I represent Clwyd West as a privileged Member of the Welsh Youth Parliament. From the next Senedd election, Wales will use a new proportional voting system, and understanding it, as my fellow Members have said, is really, really key. Under the old system, we voted for one person in a small area. If your preferred candidate didn’t win, your vote didn’t help elect anyone, so many votes were, effectively, wasted.

The new system works differently. Wales will be divided into larger constituencies, and each will elect six Members. Voters aged 16 and over will have one vote on one ballot paper to choose a party list or an independent candidate. Now, the important thing here is the new system is not just about some people’s votes counting for more. It is about fewer votes being wasted. Seats are shared out in proportion to how people voted across the whole constituency, so the result should more closely match the overall vote.

Now, for young people, that means that our single vote helps shape the bigger picture, proportionally, not just one winner in one big place. By understanding this system, we can vote with confidence and make sure our voices are part of the overall result. So, leaving this here today, I urge all young people and privileged Members of the Welsh Youth Parliament to make sure you take this understanding and duplicate it for your young people in your constituencies across Wales, and to understand how to register to vote, as it is important to use your democratic vote. Diolch yn fawr. Thank you very much.

Diolch, Awel. Emily Williams is next, the partner Member for Tŷ Gobaith and Tŷ Hafan.

Diolch, Llywydd. We launched our survey entitled 'Your say on prevention and protection from crime in school or colleges' in September 2025 in order to collect a wider view as to what young people in Wales actually thought about their safety and support in schools. The key themes that our questions focused on included young people's opinions on their safety, what behaviours young people had observed in their schools and colleges, and the effectiveness of support and safety provided by schools and colleges. Also, alongside our core questions on crime, the survey included a short section on mental health, following on from the work of previous mental health committees in the Welsh Youth Parliament.

A large portion of the data collected was quantitative, however a handful of questions also provided a small amount of qualitative data. During the process of writing the survey, a discussion was held as to whether to include questions on the long-term changes in criminal and disruptive behaviour, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to the age of our respondents, we elected to instead focus on only the present moment within our survey. If we wanted to take a longitudinal approach, we instead elected to use data collected in the teachers' behavioural summit of May 2025.

Following the launch of the survey, all Welsh Youth Parliament Members were asked to share the survey to collect a large volunteer sample. On behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank every Member, school, college, youth group and organisation who shared the survey as it allowed us to collect a massive 1,985 responses. I'd like to add that the large turnout of the survey also serves as an indication of how important the issue of crime is in young people's eyes, which stresses the importance of the recommendations that we will be putting forward.

When evaluating the survey, we encountered one issue: how the sample was collected. Considering that it was a volunteer sample shared in schools, it's possible that key sections of the population could be missed, for example people with low school attendance. Alongside this, we were interested in the opinions of young people from more marginalised groups. This led to us conducting 10 focus groups with a variety of groups. For example, I had the pleasure of attending a focus group with my school, with the organisation Meddwl Ymlaen. Again, I'd like to offer my gratitude to every group that allowed us to visit them and hold discussions with them. This allowed us to collect rich, qualitative data, which has greatly contributed to our work.

Following the collection of our data, quantitative results were inputted into a Power BI dashboard to create graphical representations of the data. Alongside this, the Welsh Youth Parliament team created a report summarising key findings and correlations. We have then met as a committee multiple times to discuss these findings, comparing them to our personal experiences, alongside results we'd expect to find within a perfectly functional system. Following the interpretation of our results, we were then able to develop our eight recommendations, seeking to improve the issues that our research found, and my other Members will tell you about them. Diolch. Thank you.

Diolch, Emily. Grace Tilbury is next, Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.

I will be discussing the key findings that we've discovered in crime and safety. From our research, three key themes emerged as topics that the young respondents felt strongly about. When I discuss the statistics for these themes, remember that we had almost 2,000 responses to our survey, meaning that just 10 per cent is actually 200 people, and so on.

Our first theme was safety, bullying and disruptive behaviour at school. Interestingly, our results initially looked to be positive, as 72 per cent of the survey's participants responded that they felt safe at their school or college. However, this was quickly counteracted with the fact that our focus groups said that they felt school was particularly unsafe for them. In addition to safety at school, we noticed a 10 per cent decrease when participants were asked if they thought their school or college was a safe and inclusive place, which links to relationships in school later in our findings. We made sure not to ignore this gap in our recommendations.

Moving on to behaviour and bullying in school, this feedback increased negatively. Forty per cent of young people in our survey told us they had seen other pupils to be the victim of violent or abusive behaviour, and what was more concerning is that only 19 per cent felt this was a problem. After these statistics, we realised there is a lack of acknowledgement in schools towards the fact that disruptive behaviour is unacceptable and it has become normalised. Participants also reported back that 20 per cent had witnessed disruptive behaviour happen to staff members at schools. It's emerged that some of these incidents are consisting of unwanted sexual abuse. This emphasised that bad behaviour is increasing in its occurrence and its severity.

We know that behaviour can range in extent, but from our survey's feedback, it became apparent that behaviour is affecting young people's education. Only 11 per cent of pupils felt that this behaviour was never or rarely happening in their school or college. In our focus groups, one student stated that, 'It was all kicking off' in their classroom, and that they were, 'Screaming at each other.' These are not appropriate conditions for a good quality of education, so we made sure to highlight the importance of action towards this in our report.

Lastly, bullying was a strong theme continuously being discussed in our focus groups. It was established that minority groups in schools are being targeted, and, to quote one participant, they

'got bullied all the way through primary and into comp.'

As well as this, they stated that the school lacked recognition in supporting them as a minority group. 

Our second theme was mental health. This is a broad topic, so we focused on how often pupils are struggling, if they are getting support, and their knowledge of what support is available at their school or college. Thankfully, 66 per cent told us that poor mental health and stress did not have a negative impact on their behaviour at school. But in saying this, that is 34 per cent that feel it does affect their education. Thinking about causes, almost half of the respondents said that exam pressures were a particular cause of stress. Likewise to safety and behaviour, there was an increase in pupils struggling with their mental health in minority groups, and whether or not this affects their attendance and behaviour. From this, we established that schools need to provide adequate resources for improving support offered to these groups.

As well as this, we repeated some questions asked in 2022 and 2020 surveys about mental health so that we could compare the trends. We saw a 22 per cent increase in how students feel about the availability of support in schools. However, there were still 28 per cent of respondents saying that they didn't feel comfortable seeking this support available. This figure may be less than half, but it proves that there is still a stigma regarding seeking support that needs to be tackled.

Finally, our last key theme was pupil engagement and relationships. Fifty-four per cent of young people in our survey said that they felt listened to and respected at their school or college. Even though this is just over a half, there is still a whole other half of respondents who didn't feel included. In addition to this, only 30 per cent said that they had actually been involved in making plans on pupil safety in school, showing that there is a lack of pupils' voices being heard and considered. Students had many ideas of how this can be fixed. They touched on social activities, interactive lessons and achievements in school, and these ideas were explored in more detail in the report. The abundance of ideas we received implies to us that students want to be included in school more.

Linking into this, we looked at student and staff relationships. We had a range of feedback from students, but 64 per cent of young people said staff would respond properly if concerns were reported to them. This is a hopeful statistic, but we know that all situations should be taken into account, as right now that's just over a 50:50 chance a student would be taken seriously. We realised from our results that there is a variety in treatment from staff in schools, which makes us glad that most staff do care, but this standard of care needs to be a standard among all members of staff, as it is crucial for students to always have a trustworthy adult available to them.

Last but not least, two thirds of the survey respondents said that they would know what to do if they saw or experienced violent, abusive or unwanted sexual behaviour. This indicates that there is a general understanding of acting upon incidents in school, but there are still gaps as not all respondents said that they would know what to do. In terms of education on topics, it was identified in focus groups that more people need to be given information about differences, race, the LGBTQ community and disabilities. We established that this is vital, as it would allow people to have more empathy, and, hopefully, decrease the theme of bullying towards minority groups.

Overall, we realised that these emerging themes show there is a lot that needs to be done to improve behaviour in school, especially towards minority groups, so we considered all of these themes when we made our last section of recommendations, which Devlin will talk about now.

Diolch. Recommendation 1: as a matter of priority, the Welsh Government should act to improve the experiences of young people from marginalised groups where they receive education. They should build on our work and engage further with the groups highlighted in this report to identify solutions that will improve their safety and, therefore, their education experiences.

Recommendation 2: review guidance for schools and colleges about reporting incidents, security procedures and systems to make sure they are tightened so young people are kept safe. Thank you.

Riley Barn.

Right, so, recommendation 3: it has been seen that there has been a stigma around mental health and the idea of asking for help about it. It's a well-known fact that quite a lot of people, and a large majority, don’t enjoy asking other people for help or don’t enjoy reaching out to actively try and improve their own mental health. Through this survey, we have seen that there was a spike in the number of people who said that the actual act of looking out for mental health help in the school was already a challenge without the added difficulties of the actual difficulties themselves. A recommendation that we've come up with is that we need to tackle the actual stigma that goes around it and see how we can help effect a change in people actively working towards looking into their own mental health.

Recommendation 4: improving the pupil voice. Pupil voice was a big issue, and it was seen that a lot of people didn't see, as mentioned previously, their activities taken seriously and their voice taken seriously by the school. It's a big issue that we need to tackle over a large period of time because we know it will be difficult to work towards, but we think we need to talk to, possibly, senior leadership; either that or we need to talk to actual students and figure out what schools have done and what schools aren't doing in regards to pupil voice.

Diolch. Ava Martin-Thomas, Pontypridd.

Diolch, Llywydd. For our fifth recommendation, we would like lessons to be more engaging, interactive and connected to issues that are important to young people so pupils feel more involved and motivated.

Additionally, for our sixth recommendation, we want to make sure schools and colleges have the resources they need to provide more opportunities for pupils to access one-to-one support from teachers and staff. They should also have resources to deliver more social activities, and groups that help build positive relationships between pupils and staff. Diolch.

Thank you for that.

Diolch, Llywydd. Recommendation 7 is to provide more lessons for pupils, and training staff across a variety of areas, from demonstrating the consequences of serious crimes and how to stay safe, to building healthy relationships, having positive behaviours and diversity and inclusion. This is to improve the educational experience for all young people across Wales, including those from marginalised groups. However, this needs to be seen as a continual, ongoing programme and not just a one-time tick-box exercise.

Finally, recommendation 8 is to provide support and to facilitate the sharing of good practice and guidance to schools and colleges, in order to improve consistency in respect of inclusion, managing pupil behaviour and bullying across the country. Diolch.

Thank you to the four of you for summarising the recommendations. Isabelle Ravenhill is now going to summarise the report and conclude this session for us—Aelod Mynwy, Monmouth.

As we draw this section of the Plenary to a close, I'd like to take this opportunity on behalf of the crime and safety committee to thank everyone who has helped us to share the consultation with young people across Wales. I'd also like to thank everyone who has taken their valuable time to take part in the consultation, and share their valuable views. Your voices are invaluable in shaping the conversation and action around issues that matter to us all. Let us urge the Senedd and the Welsh Government to actively listen to our voices, the young people of Wales. They matter. Diolch, Llywydd.

—the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle.

Diolch, Llywydd, and bore da, pawb. Thank you very much for the invitation to be here today. I want to thank the Crime and Safety Committee for your powerful and important report, 'Safe, Included and Heard', and for your contributions this morning. Tackling the challenges of disruptive behaviour in schools and colleges is a top priority for me.

Your report gives children and young people a much needed voice in tackling these issues. With an impressive nearly 2,000 young people contributing to the survey and 106 young people taking part in focus groups, I agree with you that your survey gives us a strong picture of the concerns and views of young people in Wales. While your survey found that 72 per cent of young people said they felt safe at school, fewer—62 per cent, as we've heard—felt it was both safe and inclusive. That's a real concern to me, especially taken with your findings that young people from marginalised groups had worse experiences. What you've found about marginalised groups chimes with Welsh Government's own research and evidence.

I want every young person to feel safe and included, and I am determined to dramatically raise these percentages. When I met recently with the committee, I reiterated how important your work is in helping us achieve that goal. Your views and insights from your survey are critical to ensuring these actions deliver real impact for learners and schools, and I also really welcome the committee's open and honest reflections this morning.

I wanted to offer an initial response to some of your recommendations, and will respond fully and in writing in the new year. You make really powerful points about improving experiences for marginalised groups. Tackling inequality is a priority for us. We are delivering the LGBTQ action plan, strengthening our anti-bullying guidance, and plan to consult on new guidance to support trans and non-binary learners. We are committed to the education actions in our 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', and are prioritising promotion of the social model of disability.

But I know this can't just be about the right policies. As a Government, we have to make sure that those policies are implemented in all schools. I will take forward targeted engagement with young people to explore solutions to the issues raised in your report. The committee makes an important recommendation on safety and reporting. This is consistent with the recommendations from the round-table on violence in schools and colleges that we held in the spring. We are working with local authorities to share good practice, including learning from Cardiff Council's new weapons in schools guidance. We're also working with the four police and crime commissioners and forces in Wales to strengthen partnership working between police, local authorities and schools.

We also agree with your recommendation 8 that we need to share good practice and guidance to schools and colleges in respect of inclusion, managing pupil behaviour and bullying. The need for consistent national guidance was also a key theme from our behaviour summit in the spring. This term, we launched a new behaviour toolkit for schools, and we've completed the consultation on our new anti-bullying guidance. We're developing new mobile phone guidance for schools, which I hope will be ready in the spring.

Now, it was great to see a chapter of your report dedicated to mental health and that you've revisited some of the findings of your predecessor Youth Parliaments. There's nothing more important to me than supporting the mental health of our children and young people. It was positive to see that your survey found fewer young people struggling with their mental health, and to see you report an increase in the numbers of young people saying they were happy with the availability and reliability of mental health support. As a Government, we're continuing to invest £14 million a year in our whole-school approach to mental health, supporting an entitlement to school counselling for children and young people from year 6 and above, child and adolescent mental health services in-reach teams in schools across Wales, and upskilling our school staff to support young people.

But I am not at all complacent. I share your concern that, in your survey, young people's opinion of the quality of support received hadn't changed much since the Welsh Youth Parliament's 'Young Minds Matter' report in 2022. I know that we have more work to do. Your recommendation will further inform our approach, and you also have my commitment that I will share and discuss your report with the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being.

Now, I believe that strong relationships are crucial to support not just the mental health of young people, but all our mental health. I was so pleased to see your report making powerful points about the importance of positive relationships, having more time with school staff, and the importance of school staff and leadership setting positive examples to foster healthy relationships. I know from my school visits that we already have schools that do this really well, but the fact that your survey found that just over half of young people—54 per cent—said they felt heard and respected shows we have more work to do. This year, we've invested £2 million to help schools provide creative, sporting, cultural and other activities in and around the school day, and I'm really pleased this money will rise by an extra £1 million next year. I hope that will help respond to your particular recommendation.

I was also pleased to see recommendation 7, which calls for more lessons for pupils and staff about positive relationships and staying safe. Now, in relation to the Curriculum for Wales, relationships and sexuality education is mandatory. But, earlier this year, I met with our keeping safe online young people's group to discuss the issues they were facing in school, and some of what they told me was deeply worrying. I was concerned we needed to do more to ensure all young people get consistently high-quality relationship and sexuality education. So, I've invested £4.2 million in the Cwtch education project to provide dedicated RSE advisers in every local authority, ensuring consistent high-quality support and resources for schools. I would be very keen to have further discussions with you about how we can make sure this project delivers for all young people across Wales. I also agree with your recommendation on making lessons more engaging—learner voice is a core principle of the Curriculum for Wales.

Finally, you make a fundamental recommendation on improving pupil voice and ensuring that young people are shaping policies and decisions. Learner voice must underpin everything we do. We are committed to amplifying young people's voices, to share policies on safety, inclusion and the wider educational environment. I would very much like to work closely with the Youth Parliament to explore effective approaches identified through the consultation, and we will ensure that we share that good practice across Wales to build on the positive work that is already happening in our schools.

Your report today is an outstanding example of pupil voice, but I know that you want to see action in response to your recommendations. Your clear and powerful findings will feed directly into plans to improve behaviour in schools, building on the ideas shared at our national behaviour summit, and I'm really keen to continue working with you on these issues. We'll also be working with Children in Wales and the children's commissioner to hear from even more children and young people about behaviour in schools. And I also want to hear what your parents, carers, teachers and headteachers think so that we can find positive solutions together.

Thank you, all, again so much for your work on this, and congratulations on an excellent and comprehensive report. I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that we can make sure that all our schools and colleges are places where all our young people are safe, included and heard. Diolch yn fawr.

The children's commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes. Croeso.

Diolch. A really fantastic report. Huge congratulations to all of you who were involved in the crime and safety committee. It was just such an achievement, really, to have engaged so many voices from so many children and young people—nearly 2,000, who responded to this important work. The very diverse groups that you reached and your methodology was also really diverse, including online and focus groups. So, to start with, I'd just commend and congratulate you for that fantastic work.

But what the report tells us is really worrying and concerning. What it shares is unfortunately not new; it very much echoes the concerns and themes that I have heard in my role, talking, with my team, to nearly 9,000 children and young people in the last year and engaging with over 20,000 children and young people online from every local authority. These are really consistent messages and themes that I'm hearing on a daily, weekly basis from children and young people right across Wales.

But you have engaged the young people in your constituencies and helped them to exercise their crucial right to be heard, and the report touches on many other crucial rights that are embedded in the UNCRC, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which it is my job to promote and protect—so, the right to be safe, the right to not be discriminated against, the right to have the best possible healthcare. All of those rights are touched on by your really important report.

I'll start with the first theme of your report, around safety, bullying and disruptive behaviour. Like the Cabinet Secretary for Education mentioned, you could see it in a positive light, as 72 per cent of your respondents said they did feel safe in school, but, on the other hand, only 62 per cent were feeling or agreeing that their school is a safe and inclusive place. I think that theme of inclusion is a really important one that you've highlighted, and the work that you've done to really highlight and draw out the particular negative experiences of marginalised young people, I think, is so important. My own office—and I have led work on this—has focused on the issue of racism in secondary schools and how that has impacted deeply and negatively on so many children and young people. We published that report in 2023 and made a series of recommendations, most of which were accepted. However, progress towards implementing those recommendations has, unfortunately—. I think I've been disappointed with the pace of that change and that implementation, but I'm pleased to hear the Cabinet Secretary for Education's commitments today to really take forward the concerns that you have, again, highlighted in your report. 

I know that the issue of bullying in schools has been an issue that has been a priority for every single children's commissioner that has existed in the 20 years that my office has existed in Wales. It was set up in 2001. I'm the fourth children's commissioner that there's been, and bullying has been a priority for every single commissioner, and yet we still are hearing again from your report that too many children and young people, particularly those from marginalised groups, are still experiencing bullying and, perhaps, that there is much more to do to make sure that those children and young people know how to report, what happens if they report, and making sure that they have those trusted relationships and adults to go to. One of the recommendations that I’ve made in my own annual report to the Welsh Government this year is that there should be a children and young people's equivalent sub-group set up to feed into the 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', which is such an important tenet of the Welsh Government's programme. So, I will be hearing shortly whether the Welsh Government has accepted that recommendation and all of the other recommendations that my report makes. So, I look forward to that response and hope that they do take that forward, because there is such alignment with everything that you have highlighted.

On the topic of mental health, this has been one of my key priorities for my first three-year strategy. Again, I hear very similar things to what your report has highlighted. I am pleased and encouraged to see the slight improvement that your report finds. And because you have used the same questions, the same methodology, being able to show the change in those statistics is a really important piece of evidence that you as a Youth Parliament have brought forward. It’s a systematic way—it is showing us developments and change over time. But although there is a slight improvement, there are some really worrying issues there in relation to how frequently children and young people are feeling unhappy and having their mental health challenged. I also echo your calls to do more on this topic, particularly through schools. But I think perhaps we can give credit where it’s due, and perhaps some of the improvement could be because of the sustained focus that the Government has had through the whole-school approach to mental health and emotional well-being. But, crucially, that need for the sustained protection of those roles in schools who are playing such a key role in supporting children and young people with their mental health is a really important message that you have also brought forward and is also one of the recommendations that I am making. Another recommendation that I make in relation to mental health, which really chimes with your report, is that there should be sustained investment in the mental health sanctuary hubs that many health boards have been able to open with Welsh Government investment. But I really hope and call for those resources and those hubs to be sustained and continued.

Going on to your theme of pupil engagement and relationships, this touches on an absolutely crucial element of children's rights, which is your right to be heard. You are calling for and making it very clear that you would like the pupil voice to be strengthened. And I’m really encouraged again by the Cabinet Secretary for Education's commitment to do more to amplify children and young people's voices, and also to continue to work with you as a Youth Parliament, as a Senedd Ieuenctid, to continue to explore these conversations. My office has recently been undertaking a Wales-wide piece of work on how young people are supported to have their voices heard through local authorities in Wales. There is an existing duty on local authorities to enable the participation of children and young people in decisions and issues that affect them. There is a range of ways in which this is happening, and I have heard some really excellent examples of good practice, but I am also hearing some really consistent and common themes around, perhaps, those participation efforts not always reaching a representative range of children and young people in those areas, and generally needing more to be done before those children and young people go from being listened to to actually being heard. I see that that is in the title of your report, because, to actually be heard, you need to see action from decision makers that your concerns are being acted upon. So, it's that next step of acting on your concerns that I would really like to see happen.

Just to wrap up, then, and to conclude, I absolutely welcome your report, and I fully support all eight of your recommendations. I think they are all absolutely consistent with the evidence that you've brought forward and also consistent with many of the recommendations that I have made in my own recommendations and calls to the Welsh Government. Fundamentally, though, I really want to say that the Youth Parliament should be and needs to be taken much more seriously by the Welsh Government, and the next Welsh Government, I hope, can put in some firmer measures to make this happen. I would like there to be more formalised methods of the Welsh Government responding to your reports. We know that you have already mentioned that many of the themes around mental health, but also the themes that we heard the other committees talk about—public transport and so on—have been regular, consistent calls that have been made by your predecessor Parliaments as well. So, we all know, it has been said, that young people are not only the future, you are the present, you have a right to be heard, you have a right for your concerns to be listened to. Adults have a duty to act in your best interests, and surely it is in your best interests to make sure that we are all doing everything possible to make sure that you are all safe, included and heard.

Today, I will be signing a memorandum of understanding with the Llywydd to formalise the relationship between my office and the Youth Parliament, the Senedd Ieuenctid, because I would like there to be stronger accountability from you as children and young people, elected representatives of your peers, towards my own office. I've mentioned a few times already the recommendations that I make. I was scrutinised—. This is my annual report that was published last month, and I publish every year, and it contains all of the recommendations I have mentioned and it is also online. I was scrutinised on this by the Children and Young People's Committee—last week, I think it was. I would love to be scrutinised by you as a Youth Parliament to really strengthen that accountability, going forward, but that is something that we are still discussing. It hasn't been agreed, but it is, I think, a suggestion from me.

We know that the next few years will be very critical. We've heard earlier impassioned statements around how—. We've heard mention of the winds of change and how important the next few years will be and how important voting in the election next year will be, and I absolutely agree with that, but I also think it's so important that we also think about how much is at stake and how important it is to protect the really fundamental rights that have been very hard earned. Your children's rights are enshrined in Welsh Government legislation and your children's rights, when you become 18, will become your human rights. So, it's so important that we all do everything we can to protect those hard-earned rights.

I've got three and a half years left in my role, so I'm excited to continue working with you over the remainder of your own term, and I really look forward to working more closely with you as a whole Youth Parliament, but also the comments that have been made in terms of the commitment to taking forward the particular concerns of this report. I would really hope that my office can also be part of that conversation. Again, a huge commendation to all of the hard work that went into creating this really important report, and I really urge the Government to take it very seriously and to act on what it says. Diolch yn fawr.

I'm going to see if there are a few questions or comments from Members, just to round off this session. We've only got a few minutes left for that, but if you have any questions or comments, do you want to indicate who wants to speak? I'll look to see if I can find people who haven't spoken thus far first. Okay, I've got one at the back. Anybody else? Two, I've got four from—. Oh, here they come. [Laughter.] Okay, we will start at the back. I'll take you, you are—. Tell us who you are and make your comment or ask your question.

That's totally fine. Diolch, Llywydd. My name is Daniel Vlad, and I represent the Vale of Glamorgan here in the Youth Parliament. I have a question directed towards the Cabinet Secretary for Education. As the crime committee have talked and commented about the current effects of bullying, I believe it's important to think about the future, the future effects of the bullying. So, could you kindly tell us how you will be keeping track and highlighting your progress towards limiting the impacts and effects of bullying? Diolch.

Thank you for the question, Daniel. I'm going to ask you to respond after I've taken a few comments and questions. I'm definitely going to call the Member for Ceredigion for obvious reasons. Kiani Francis.

My name's Kiani Francis. I represent Ceredigion in the Welsh Youth Parliament and I would like to thank you, first of all, for your responses. We're very grateful to have our voices heard, but I am really glad that you mentioned pace as an issue. As a committee, we have discussed that maybe we don't want to be just another voice that is echoed. We want to be actually actively creating change, which is why I want to ask: do you think there's a possibility for the crime committee in the Welsh Youth Parliament to have a more active and larger role in collaborating with the Children's Commission for Wales and the Welsh Government? Thank you.

Thank you. There was a hand here. Olive.

Yes. Hello, my name's Olive and I represent Digon, which is a partner organisation. My question is: how will you be updating the Welsh Youth Parliament on what happens next and keeping us involved in your work? Thank you.

I'll take one from this side as well. Next to the children's commissioner. 

Hi, I'm Elliott. I represent Voices from Care Cymru, which is a partner organisation. My question is directed at the children's commissioner: how are you going to ensure that the Welsh Government do take action and do not just listen to us, but hear us and our views as a Youth Parliament? I also have a question for the education Secretary: considering bullying, what are the plans to protect the most vulnerable young people, young people with disabilities, care-experienced young people, who may not have adults at home who they can speak to about bullying or consistent and stable lives?

Okay. I'm very sorry to everybody else who had something to say, but we've run out of time this morning. So, I'll ask you, Lynne, first, and then the children's commissioner.

Thank you very much for those questions. If I can go to Daniel first—and, obviously, Elliott also picked up on the issue of bullying—I do recognise what a huge issue this is. I was at Penygarn Community Primary School in my own constituency yesterday, and really young children were talking to me about the impact that bullying had had in their lives, and that's simply not acceptable. We've just consulted on revised guidance on bullying, but, as I said earlier, policies are only part of the solution; it's got to be implemented right the way across Wales. So, when we bring out this new guidance now, I'd be very happy to share it with the Welsh Youth Parliament, but I think it's important that we as a Government also set in place milestones and timescales to make sure that that is actually implemented.

Elliott, you made a really important point about the most vulnerable, and, obviously, the committee has highlighted that all the problems faced in schools are worse for marginalised groups. We do a lot of research as a Government, and that comes up all the time, whether it's LGBTQ learners, people experiencing racism, and we even have an academic survey that's undertaken that has come up with these findings. So, I think we need a more granular approach to supporting young people who are affected from disadvantaged groups.

The other things that we're looking at are things like restorative practice. I don't know if you've heard of that, but we have some schools in Wales that have a very relational approach to working with young people to tackle bullying, where the young people themselves are directly involved as peers, and that is very effective. We're currently looking at whether we can pilot that in more schools.

Kiani, I totally agree with you on your point about pace. I sometimes also get very frustrated about the pace of change within the Government. We don't always move as quickly as I would like. But I do assure you that you won't be just another voice on this. I have taken your report really seriously; I have read every word and I've considered all the recommendations. We will come back to you with a full and detailed response on each of your recommendations and also look to work with you as we take forward those recommendations. And we will—in response to Olive's point as well—make sure that we keep you updated.

Obviously, lots of you have talked about the fact that we are in a time of pretty momentous change, with an election in May. I understand that there are plans for a joint session between the Welsh Youth Parliament and the new Senedd. I think that's really important, that new Members coming in get to hear from you and understand how vital your voices are. But I think I can certainly speak for me, and I'm sure the Llywydd, that, if we are back here in May, we will also be continuing to bang the drum with the new Senedd to tell them how vital it is that we listen to you, but not just listen to you, to make sure that we act on your concerns. And just to add, when I was Minister for mental health—and I know that there are still ongoing issues with mental health support; we've got more work to do—my officials did work very closely with the previous Welsh Youth Parliament to try and take forward their recommendations. And I'd be very keen for myself and my officials to do that on 'Safe, Included and Heard'. Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr. And finally from the children's commissioner, a short response to some of the points that were directed at you.

Yes. I think the common theme from the few questions was about how my office can work more closely with the Youth Parliament and Welsh Government, and I am very open to all suggestions. I know that Delyth has been in close conversation with my team about how we can do this practically, given the constraints on your time, as well, as young people with busy lives. But I'm very open to suggestions. It's something that I really would like to see happen, because then we can be a stronger voice together. So, yes. Diolch.

That brings our work for this morning to a close and for this meeting of the Youth Parliament. I know that you have all kinds of additional work to do this afternoon, as you go and discuss your committee work with various representatives of public and civic life in Wales, so I wish you well with that.

It's been my absolute pleasure to chair three Youth Parliaments in my time as Llywydd. You all continue to inspire me to continue being a strong advocate for the people of Wales. If there is anything that has touched me this morning, it's the words of Grace—I think it was you—who mentioned that you are not the future, you are the present; your influence is now. Too many politicians of an older age think of young people as the future. No, you are the present, and what happens to you in your daily lives now is important to you and to us. You probably have a bit of a longer future than some of us have, but you are the present.