This opportunity is open to all of our service users across our projects between 11-17 years old. Our projects include Housing Support, Homeless Prevention, After Care, Academi Cyfleon, LGBTQ+ Club, Caffi Creu and the ICan Hub. Despite the fact that only one young person, within the age limit, can represent us we’re determined to ensure that this is an opportunity for everyone and we are looking forward to creating more internal opportunities here at GISDA involving this partnership.
We have a number of young people eager to be elected a ‘GISDA Representative’ and they are currently busy preparing their manifestos for our internal Hustings and Election on November 1st. It is our young people here at GISDA that will be electing who will be representing them at the Senedd.
Empowering young people to share their voices is important to us here at GISDA and since the beginning of August 2021 we have revived our GISDA Youth Board. Our Youth Board meetings take place every week, between Caernarfon and Blaenau Ffestiniog, and the young people are enjoying the opportunity to express themselves and build their confidence.
Consultation is an important part of our services and is integrated in every aspect of our support. In addition to this recently between our Youth Board, Clwb LGBTQ+ and ICan Hub we have been busy consulting with our young people on matters such as mental health, transport, LGBTQ+ rights, the environment, homelessness amongst other matters. Our hopeful representatives have participated in many of these meetings demonstrating their readiness to ensure that everyone’s voices is heard.
We look forward to sharing our journey with you and keep an eye out in December for an official announcement by Welsh Youth Parliament as to who will be our elected representative!