Author: Cardiff Youth Council

Cardiff Youth Council members came together last night for a lively and positive General Meeting, which included the election of the new Chair and Vice Chair.

The meeting and elections were chaired by current Vice Chair, Ashika Pennadam, who supported members through the voting process and helped create a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere throughout the evening.

Emily Gao, the current Chair of Cardiff Youth Council, stood as a candidate for the third time and was successfully voted in as Chair. Mikaeel Moulani, now aged 15, stood for the second time, having previously been elected Chair when he was just 11 years old and in Year 6. Members voted for Mikaeel to become the new Vice Chair, taking over the role from Ashika.

As part of the election process, both candidates delivered a short two-to-three-minute speech, setting out why they wanted to represent Cardiff Youth Council and what they hoped to bring to the role. Their speeches were followed by questions from CYC members, giving young people the opportunity to scrutinise the candidates, hear their ideas, and take part fully in the democratic process.

The elections were a positive, thoughtful and funny affair, with members joining in the fun while taking their voting responsibilities seriously. The meeting showed the confidence, humour and commitment of Cardiff Youth Council members, as well as the importance of young people having real opportunities to influence decisions and represent the voices of their peers.

Emily and Mikaeel will now work together to support Cardiff Youth Council members, represent children and young people across the city, and continue strengthening the role of young people in local decision-making.

Congratulations to Emily Gao and Mikaeel Moulani on their election, and thank you to Ashika Pennadam for her work as Vice Chair and for chairing the meeting.

April was a busy and exciting month for youth participation in Cardiff.

Across the month, 55 young people took part in 5 opportunities to influence decision-making, contributing a total of 160 volunteer hours to help shape the city.

As Cardiff Youth Council, we came together for both our Executive Meeting and General Meeting, where we discussed a range of important issues affecting young people in Cardiff.

One key focus was the upcoming Senedd elections in May. We talked about the importance of voting, how young people can register to vote, and why democratic participation matters. We also discussed the response we received from the Cabinet Member for Education and the Director of Education following the letter we had sent about what the council is doing to support democratic education. Overall, we felt the response was detailed and positive, but we will be following up with further questions to keep the conversation going.

We were also updated on the current position of the Vision for Play work that we have been involved in since September. It was good to see how this work is developing and how young people’s ideas are continuing to shape it.

Another important part of April’s meeting was looking at how to improve Cardiff Youth Council itself. Members shared ideas about how CYC could develop in the future, what priorities we should focus on next, and how we can make the group even stronger. These suggestions will now be considered by the CYC Task & Finish Group, who will look at what members have put forward and respond.

There were also some fantastic opportunities for young people to represent Cardiff more widely during the month. 18 young people from a range of groups, including CYC, the Youth Service Digital Group, Young Creators, the School Organisation Planning Youth Group, Young Influencers, young people involved in a leadership programme run by Common Wealth, and Bright Sparks, a group of looked after children working with Children’s Services, supported Cardiff’s UNICEF Assessment Day. They presented their work and took part in discussions with UNICEF representatives as part of Cardiff’s reaccreditation process as a Child Friendly City. We are expecting to hear the result in May, and we want to say a big thank you to everyone involved for representing young people in Cardiff so well.

Another highlight of the month was work linked to Scrutiny. Nine CYC members met in the city centre, supported by Child Friendly Cardiff staff, to carry out a survey with young people. They asked key questions about what brings young people into the city during the day, what they like about the city centre, and what could be improved. It was a great success, and the young people involved really enjoyed the experience. A report has now been written and shared with Scrutiny, as well as with the young people involved, so that feedback has been properly closed.

Overall, April showed the range of ways young people are helping to shape Cardiff, from democracy and play, to scrutiny, city centre experiences and major UNICEF assessment work. It was another strong month for youth voice, leadership and action.

March was another strong month for youth participation in Cardiff.

Across the month, 36 young people took part in 4 opportunities to influence decision-making, contributing a total of 103 volunteer hours to help shape the city.

As Cardiff Youth Council, we came together for both our Executive Meeting and General Meeting, where we explored a mix of local and global issues affecting children and young people.

During the month, we discussed important topics including period poverty through the Charity Free General Hygiene initiative, as well as opportunities linked to the World Scout Jamboree. These conversations gave us the chance to think about how young people in Cardiff are connected to wider issues and opportunities beyond the city.

One of the main focuses of March was preparing for the Community & Adult Scrutiny Committee. At our General Meeting, we worked together to refine and respond to a set of questions about young people’s experiences of Cardiff city centre.

We explored what attracts young people to the city centre, what is currently working well, what could be improved, and what might put young people off visiting. This was an important opportunity to make sure that young people’s real experiences helped shape discussions about how the city centre can better meet our needs.

Alongside this, members also took part in both the Community & Adult Scrutiny Meeting and the Environment Scrutiny Meeting, continuing our role in questioning decision-makers, sharing young people’s views, and influencing how services and spaces are developed across Cardiff.

March also included an important opportunity for representation beyond our usual meetings. CYC Chair Emily and Vice Chair Ashika attended the “From Global Convention to a ‘City for CEDAW’” event in Cardiff, which marked the 40th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The event brought together leaders, practitioners, academics, policymakers and advocates to share ideas and practical approaches for tackling gender inequality and improving service delivery. It was hosted in Cardiff as Europe’s first “City for CEDAW” and focused on building a fairer and more equal future.

February was another busy month for youth participation in Cardiff.

Across the month, 38 young people took part in 4 opportunities to influence decision-making, contributing a total of 117 volunteer hours to help shape issues that matter to children and young people across the city.

As Cardiff Youth Council, we came together for both our Executive Meeting and General Meeting, where we discussed some big topics affecting young people in Cardiff right now.

At our General Meeting, we looked back at progress from previous work, including letters we had sent to the Cabinet Member and Director of Education about transport and democracy education. This was a chance to reflect on how our views are being shared with decision-makers and how we can keep pushing for change.

We also discussed the upcoming recruitment of Cardiff’s new Head of School Improvement. This was an important opportunity because young people were not just being informed about the process, we were directly involved in it.

As part of that, several Cardiff Youth Council members took part in interview training, helping us build the skills and confidence needed to be involved in formal recruitment. That training was then put into practice when five CYC members formed a Children and Young People’s Interview Panel to interview candidates for the role. This meant young people had a real voice in the appointment of a key senior education leader.

During February, we also explored Cardiff’s Vision for Play, sharing our ideas on how the city can create more inclusive, welcoming and accessible opportunities for children and young people to play. This was an important discussion because play is a right, and we want to see Cardiff become a city where all children and young people can enjoy it.

Another highlight of the month was a lively debate on Digital ID. This gave us the chance to explore both the opportunities and the concerns around digital identification for young people, and to think critically about how new systems and technology could affect our lives.

Overall, February showed once again that young people in Cardiff are not standing on the sidelines. We are asking questions, sharing ideas, taking on responsibility and helping shape decisions about education, play and the future of our city.

January was a busy and important month for us as young people involved in shaping Cardiff. Across the month, there were 8 opportunities for children and young people to influence decision-making, with 41 young people contributing a total of 144 hours of volunteering.

As Cardiff Youth Council, we were involved in a range of activities, including our Executive Meeting, our General Meeting, and scrutiny opportunities. These meetings and sessions gave young people the chance to share views, challenge ideas, and make sure our voices were part of important conversations happening across the city.

One of the biggest highlights of January was helping to create a Committee of Experts, made up of 13 young people from across Cardiff. This group came together to look closely at Cardiff’s progress as a UNICEF Child Friendly City as part of the reaccreditation process.

The Committee of Experts explored Cardiff’s Child Friendly Sustainability Plan, looking at the promises that have been made and asking how far those commitments have actually made a difference in young people’s everyday lives. We spoke honestly about what is going well, where progress has been made, and where more change is still needed.

This work was important because it was not just about being asked for our opinions. Young people were involved as co-producers. We reviewed evidence, shared our lived experiences, identified gaps, and helped shape the recommendations. That meant our views directly influenced Cardiff’s Youth Summary Report.

The Youth Summary Report captures the experiences, priorities and recommendations of children and young people across the city. It gives a strong and honest picture of how Cardiff is doing in delivering children’s rights, while also setting out clear priorities for the next stage of the city’s Child Friendly journey.

For us, this work shows why youth participation matters. Being a Child Friendly City is not just about having a title, it is about listening to children and young people, taking what we say seriously, and making changes because of it. January showed that young people are not only part of the conversation, but are helping to hold Cardiff to account and push for further progress.

Overall, January was a strong start to the year. It showed the commitment young people have to improving Cardiff, and it also showed that when young people are trusted, included and listened to properly, we can play a real role in shaping the future of our city.

•  Chancellor’s Autumn budget: abolition of the “two-child benefit cap” from April 2026 families with three or more children will be able to get support for each child under benefits from the government

-> This means a forecasted 350,000 children will be lifted out of poverty in the UK

• Family law reform: This month the UK government has announced major reform to the Families Act 2014 which amended Section 1 of the Children Act 1989. The reform will remove the “presumption of parental involvement” in child contact cases.

-> What this means: In family cases involving children, courts will consider on a case-by-case basis the need for children to have immediate contact with their parents. For example, a history of abusive parents may mean contact with the parents will not be in the best interest of the child.

-> However, this reform is still in early stages and has not been implemented yet

• Broader changes to children’s welfare and care: UK Parliament is currently considering the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

-> The bill involves provisions of extra safeguarding for children in employment, children in care or leaving care and the regulation of independent schools and academies

-> The bill is currently going through the report stage at the House of Lords having been passed by the Commons

We recently had the wonderful opportunity to represent Cardiff Youth Council on a four- day exchange programme in our twin city Germany, Stuttgart. As Chair and Vice Chair of Cardiff Youth Council, we met members of the Stuttgart Youth Council, engaged in workshops sharing our views on local-decision making in our respective cities and immersed ourselves in German culture. Our stay consisted of a variety of workshops, exploring the city and strengthening our ties with the city youth council. 

We also met youth council representatives from Lodz in Poland, Khmelnytskyi in Ukraine and St Helens. We worked through workshops concerning participation of young people in urban planning, collaboration between young people in twin cities and future youth-led projects. An example of a youth-led project Stuttgart has implemented are smart benches in green spaces which are a suitable place to relax and charge your phone all of which is solar-powered.

On the penultimate night of our stay we celebrated an amazing 30 years of the Stuttgart Youth Council in which we learnt of the youth council’s early beginnings and the way it has changed to how it operates today, hearing from previous members and a speech from the first mayor of Stuttgart, Dr. Fabian Mayer.

Overall, this exchange trip was hugely enriching, widening our insight into city planning and the power young people have to shape local politics and decision-making. The experience allowed me to meet like-minded young people and appreciate city council workers who dedicate their lives to empowering us on this journey.

Ashika Pennadam

Attending the UK Youth Parliament annual sitting in the House of Commons for my first time was an amazing experience: we learnt so much about ourselves, the UK politics scene and we met some incredible and inspiring people.

My journey started a few months ago in June, where I was elected to be the MYP (member of youth parliament) for Cardiff, and Ffion began her second year of representing Cardiff. From June until the House of Commons Sitting, we made an effort to talk to our constituents, school peers and our communities to get an insight into what the young people in our area wanted us to represent.

In our MYP Development Day just a few weeks ago, we met with all the Welsh MYPs to brainstorm some ideas for each motion. This helped us form the foundation of our speeches in the House of Commons. The day before our sitting, we travelled to London and did some sightseeing, ranging from Battersea Power Station to Tate Britain. That night, we headed to a food market with all the Welsh MYPS, and we discussed the upcoming day in anticipation.

Finally, the day came, and it was time to represent the young people of Cardiff. When we arrived at Westminster Hall, we spoke to many other young people including the Scottish and Northern Irish representatives, as we waited excitedly to enter the House of Commons.

We were both fortunate enough to ‘catch the speakers’ eye’ and get chosen to make a speech during the general debate – and we are both so proud to have represented the young people of Cardiff. My speech was about the need for more accessible work experience opportunities in Wales, and Ffion spoke about the importance of safe and nurturing environments, free from crime.

Other MYPS in the chamber agreed with the importance of putting our solutions in motion, and we are very hopeful that it is something that will be implemented in the future. Moving forward, we are both so excited to continue representing our communities until the end of our terms, and we hope that the impact we made in the House of Commons is just as big as the impact our communities made on us.

Maya Darzi

October 2025: Young People Lead on Play, Participation, and Politics

October was a dynamic month for youth engagement in Cardiff, with 49 young people taking part in 10 opportunities, contributing a total of 148 volunteer hours to shape their city, influence policy, and develop their voices as young leaders.

At the Cardiff Youth Council (CYC) General Meeting, members launched a new enquiry into Cardiff’s Vision for Play, exploring how the city can make play more inclusive, accessible, and central to children’s lives. Meanwhile, the CYC Task & Finish Group dedicated a Saturday to designing a young person’s survey for the upcoming Participation Review, ensuring that Cardiff’s future approach to participation reflects what matters most to young people themselves.

Cardiff’s Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs) met with Children in Wales (CiW) and the National Youth Agency (NYA) to prepare for their visit to the House of Commons in November—where MYPs from across the UK will come together to debate national issues in the iconic chamber.

Adding a creative twist to the month, the CYC Executive met during half term to develop and record their first podcast, giving young people a new platform to share their experiences, ideas, and opinions with a wider audience.

October once again showed the energy, creativity, and leadership of Cardiff’s young people—proving that when given the opportunity, they don’t just participate; they lead.

July saw a surge in meaningful youth engagement across Cardiff, with 34 young people involved in 9 opportunities, contributing a remarkable 198 volunteer hours to local and international initiatives.

📌 Here’s what they’ve been up to:

🤝 Strengthening International Youth Links

The CYC Executive hosted a delegation from Stuttgart and St Helens Youth Councils in Cardiff as part of a growing international partnership. This was the second meeting of its kind, bringing young people together to explore social cohesion, democracy, and sustainability.

Together, they began developing a video to mark 70 years of twinning between Cardiff and Stuttgart. The final film will be produced by StuggiTV, a youth-led media organisation based in Stuttgart. The group is still finalising the theme of the video, but the focus will reflect shared values across the three cities.

Following the visit, CYC Members Ffion and Arthur travelled to Stuttgart for a two-day residential to continue the collaboration, strengthen relationships, and take the next steps on the project.

In September two more CYC Members will be hosted by Stuttgart as part of the anniversary event and the premier of the video..

🧠 Young Experts Help Evaluate Cardiff’s Child Friendly City Work

On Tuesday 22nd July, 9 young people joined the Child Friendly Cardiff (CFC) team as a youth committee of experts. Their mission: to examine Cardiff’s progress in maintaining its UNICEF Child Friendly City accreditation.

The group:

• Learned about Cardiff’s ongoing work to embed children’s rights across services
• Reflected on successes and challenges
• Provided clear, constructive feedback and recommendations for improvement

Their insights will help inform how Cardiff continues to embed the principles of a Child Friendly City across policy and practice.

🏛️ Leading and Scrutinising Local Decision-Making

Youth leadership remained strong in local government:

• The CYC Executive and CYC General Meeting met to continue shaping priorities for the year ahead
• Members contributed to scrutiny meetings, ensuring children and young people’s voices remain part of Cardiff’s democratic process

👏 Thank You to all the young people who gave their time, ideas, and leadership throughout July. Your efforts continue to shape a more inclusive, connected, and child-friendly Cardiff — and world.