November 2024 saw an exceptional month for youth participation in Cardiff, with 274 children and young people engaging in 10 structured opportunities, and contributing an incredible 1,059 volunteer hours. From international youth voice to local decision-making, young people continued to demonstrate leadership, creativity, and commitment to shaping a more child friendly Cardiff.
Key highlights from the month included:
- A Cardiff Youth Council (CYC) General Meeting, Executive Meeting, and a dedicated Executive Development Day, strengthening leadership and collaboration across the council’s youth representatives.
- A Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) preparatory session ahead of an international visit, followed by a two-day residential to Stuttgart, where Cardiff’s two MYPs, Ffion and Aoife, represented the city in cross-cultural dialogue on youth participation and social action.
- Meetings of the CYC Media Group, the Task and Finish Group, and several Scrutiny sessions, enabling young people to contribute to policy discussions and challenge decision-making from a child rights perspective.
- An Equalities Officer meeting, continuing Cardiff’s efforts to ensure inclusion and equity are central to youth engagement.
A standout moment in November was a high-impact event at Techniquest, where over 200 primary-aged children gathered to take part in the launch of Cardiff’s Under 11 Social Action Toolkit. Delivered by Child Friendly Cardiff, and supported by members of CYC, the event not only introduced the toolkit but actively engaged children in committing to take the work back into their own schools and communities. You can read more here Social Action at Techniquest – Cardiff Youth Council
“This month shows exactly what happens when you trust young people with real responsibility and platform their voices,” said a representative from Cardiff Youth Council. “From local scrutiny to international youth dialogue, we are not only participating—we are leading.”
Cardiff remains proud of its status as the UK’s first UNICEF Child Friendly City, and continues to ensure that children and young people’s right to participate—enshrined in Article 12 of the UNCRC—is embedded in practice.