Author: Cardiff Youth Council

Every young person has rights: We, as a representative council for 11-25 year old's, advocate for positive change and children’s rights across the city.

Environmental Scrutiny Feedback – Making Cardiff Cleaner and Greener

Cardiff Youth Council

The Environmental Scrutiny Committee met to discuss several important topics aimed at making Cardiff a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable city. They talked about waste and recycling, ensuring that more of Cardiff’s waste is recycled and used again instead of going to landfill. Members also discussed improving the city’s cycling and walking paths, making it safer and easier for everyone to travel without a car. The council looked at flood management plans to protect homes and neighbourhoods from flooding, especially during heavy rains. They reviewed strategies to protect wildlife and boost biodiversity across parks and green spaces in Cardiff. The meeting also covered street cleaning, focusing on keeping neighbourhoods tidy and pleasant to live in, and the importance of sustainability in everything the council does, fostering a better environment now and for future generations.

These decisions are important because they help make Cardiff a healthier and safer place for you to live. Improved cycling and walking paths mean you can travel safely to school, friends’ homes, and local parks without needing a car. Better recycling and waste management help protect the environment, ensuring nature and parks around you stay clean and healthy. Efforts to manage flooding will keep your neighbourhood safe during heavy rainfall, protecting your home and community. Improving biodiversity means you’ll see more wildlife and healthy plants across local green spaces, making outdoor activities more enjoyable.

This summary was created using AI to help make council information easier to understand. If you’d like to read the full original document, you can find all meeting packs here: https://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=143&LLL=0

Economy and Culture Scrutiny Feedback Oct 23, Future Plans for Parks and Leisure

Cardiff Youth Council

The Economy and Culture Scrutiny Committee talked about important changes and ideas for parks, leisure, sports, and tourism in Cardiff. They discussed making sure Cardiff’s parks and facilities keep improving and stay safe, welcoming, and fun places for everyone to enjoy. A big topic was finding new ways to pay for improvements and upkeep of parks, buildings, sports pitches, and playgrounds around the city.

They also discussed the need to encourage more people, especially younger residents, to use parks and leisure facilities by making them safer, cleaner, and easier to access. The idea is to support healthy living, sports activities, and community well-being.

The Council talked about partnering with other organisations, including local sports groups, community clubs, and businesses, to help manage and fund facilities. By doing this, they aim to offer improved services and more opportunities for local people to participate in sports, culture, and events.

These decisions matter because local parks, playgrounds, and leisure facilities are places many young people use regularly. Improving these spaces means you can enjoy better sports pitches, fun playgrounds, safer skate parks, and community places to meet friends and family. If parks and leisure facilities improve, young people will have more chances to be active, healthy, and involved in their communities.

The council wants to make sure parks and leisure centres are safe and welcoming so that children and teenagers across Cardiff feel able to visit and enjoy them regularly. They are looking at new ideas for funding because managing these spaces well means they’ll be able to keep them clean, safe, and pleasant long-term.

This summary was created using AI to help make council information easier to understand. If you’d like to read the full original document, you can find all meeting packs here: https://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=142&LLL=0

Children and Young People Scrutiny Feedback, Improving Education and Youth Services in Cardiff

Cardiff Youth Council

The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee recently met and discussed important services and initiatives that affect children and young people in Cardiff. Topics included improving educational outcomes, supporting young people with special educational needs, safeguarding children and young people’s welfare, and enhancing youth services and play opportunities.

Education-wise, discussions focused on making sure schools provide inclusive support for all students, especially those with additional learning needs. There was also talk about improving school attendance rates and reducing exclusions by making learning environments more supportive and understanding of children’s challenges.

In social services, the committee reviewed efforts to protect vulnerable children, including children in care, ensuring they have stable, supportive homes and access to quality healthcare and emotional support.

The meeting highlighted Cardiff Council’s dedication to better youth services, such as opening more places where young people can spend time safely, meet friends, and take part in activities that help them develop skills and confidence. Play services were also addressed, emphasizing the need for spaces where younger children can play safely and creatively.

These discussions matter because they shape how schools and youth services in Cardiff will support young people. Improvements mentioned could lead to more inclusive schools that better understand and help children facing challenges, greater protection and care for vulnerable children, fewer school exclusions, and better access to spaces for play and personal development. Ultimately, this means a safer, fairer, and more enjoyable city for all children and young people in Cardiff.

This summary was created using AI to help make council information easier to understand. If you’d like to read the full original document, you can find all meeting packs here: https://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=140&LLL=0

Cardiff Council Talks Youth Justice, Sports Equality, and Children’s Rights

Cardiff Youth Council

SUMMARY OF WHAT’S BEEN DISCUSSED:

During their latest meeting, Cardiff Council’s Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee spoke about important steps to support youth, focusing on Youth Justice, sports access, and corporate parenting. They discussed:

– Youth Justice Services working to prevent young people from entering the justice system unnecessarily by using diversion programmes. Special attention is given to supporting young people with additional learning needs and those at risk of school exclusion. The committee acknowledged significant improvements in dealing with young people who enter the justice system for the first or second time, highlighting that less serious cases avoid court involvement where possible.
– Ensuring young people from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to access sports facilities, especially football pitches and indoor sports spaces, which are growing popular. Costs and accessibility remain key challenges. The committee was particularly concerned about making sports accessible for girls and marginalized groups and removing financial barriers such as expensive sports gear.
– An updated Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2025-2028 was discussed. Corporate parenting means the Council takes responsibility for young people in care, ensuring they receive stable homes, emotional support, education and opportunities to succeed. The Council aims to improve emotional wellbeing, foster better relationships, and provide safer homes, education and celebration of achievements for care-experienced children.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE:

These discussions matter because:

– Youth justice improvements mean fewer young people will unnecessarily enter the court system. Instead, they will get support, education and intervention at the right moment. This can lead to better long-term outcomes, helping young people move away from crime and towards positive lifestyles.
– Improvements in sports equality could mean affordable, accessible sports available to all children and young people in Cardiff. Reduced costs and better facilities encourage participation, health, friendship and community spirit.
– The new Corporate Parenting Strategy means children in council care will see significant support in mental health, education, employment opportunities and stable living environments. This will help ensure all children in care can thrive and have positive futures, just like their peers.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S VOICES / INFLUENCE:

Young people’s views directly shaped many initiatives discussed:

– Young people in custody and care-experienced young people contributed their ideas and concerns to the Corporate Parenting Strategy, stressing the importance of stable relationships, feeling heard, and having their rights respected.
– Young people highlighted barriers to sports participation, influencing plans for affordable sports access, especially in more disadvantaged communities like Caerau and Ely.
– Bright Sparks, a group for care-experienced young people, contributed through regular meetings and a special awards event recognising their achievements. Young people said how valuable it was to be heard, supported, and celebrated in positive and meaningful ways.

Young People Shape Cardiff’s Future Through Play, Planning, and Policy – April 2025 Participation Update

Cardiff Youth Council

April 2025 saw 92 children and young people take part in 9 engagement opportunities, dedicating a combined 149 volunteer hours to shaping Cardiff’s future. From influencing city-wide plans to contributing to local policy development, young people continued to play an active and meaningful role in civic life.

As ever, Cardiff Youth Council (CYC) remained central to this work, with members attending a General Meeting, an Executive Meeting, and several Scrutiny Committee sessions, where they ensured that young people’s voices were included in council decision-making.

This month also saw a specialist session with CYC focused on developing planning guidance for play in Cardiff—helping to embed children’s right to play within the city’s planning frameworks and future development plans. The session supports Cardiff’s ambition to be a city where children have access to safe, inclusive, and accessible spaces to play and socialise.

🏙️ Youth Voices in Long-Term City Planning

A highlight of the month was the Child Friendly Cardiff team’s visits to Llanishen and Fitzalan High Schools, where young people took part in interactive workshops on the city’s Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP). The LDP sets out how Cardiff will grow up to 2036, and the workshops gave young people a chance to explore the plan and share what matters most to them.

Their top priorities included:

  • Affordable housing
  • Better and cheaper public transport
  • More green spaces and youth-friendly areas
  • Improved mental health support
  • Stronger action on climate change

This engagement not only deepened understanding of the LDP but also empowered participants to shape long-term planning decisions—demonstrating Cardiff’s continued commitment to being a UNICEF Child Friendly City, where young people’s voices are not only heard but acted upon.

Young People Share Their Vision for Cardiff’s Future Through LDP Engagement

Cardiff Youth Council

As part of Cardiff’s commitment to embedding children’s rights in policy and planning, children and young people across the city were invited to help shape the Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP)—a key strategic document that will guide how Cardiff develops up to 2036.

Between March and April 2025, Cardiff Council’s Child Friendly Cardiff team worked with schools and Cardiff Youth Council (CYC) to ensure that young voices were included in this critical consultation process. While numbers were modest—engaging around 50 young people—the impact was significant, offering clear, informed, and aspirational ideas for how Cardiff can become a more inclusive, greener and fairer city.

📍 Why the LDP Matters

The LDP outlines how Cardiff will grow and change in the coming years—covering areas such as housing, transport, open spaces, sustainability, and infrastructure. It will directly affect the places where young people live, learn, travel, and play.

Recognising that children and young people have the right to be heard in decisions that affect them (UNCRC Article 12), this engagement aimed to:

  • Raise awareness of the LDP’s role and content
  • Capture young people’s views on what Cardiff should look like by 2036
  • Model best practice for embedding youth voice in statutory planning

🧠 What Young People Said

Participants engaged through interactive workshops, digital surveys, and creative feedback tools such as Notebook LM and poster-based activities. Their key priorities were clear and consistent:

Top Priorities for Cardiff by 2036:

  • More affordable housing – especially to tackle homelessness and support low-income families
  • Better and cheaper public transport – for accessibility, climate impact, and independence
  • More training and job opportunities – linked to long-term aspirations and reducing inequality
  • Stronger mental health support – including access to youth-friendly services
  • More green spaces and youth-friendly areas – to play, relax and feel safe
  • Tackle climate change and protect green land – with a clear call to reduce building on green spaces

“I would change the amount of housing that is being built as it ruins green space that could have been used for something else.”

“Make more kid-friendly attractions and parks for teenagers.”

While nearly half of young people agreed with the LDP’s vision of a “greener, fairer, stronger” Cardiff, others said key elements were missing—particularly youth safety, mental health, and meaningful opportunities to be involved long-term.

📊 Learning Outcomes

Young people’s understanding of the LDP increased significantly during the sessions. One group’s average self-rating rose from 1.9 to 7.3 out of 10—showing the power of rights-based and interactive engagement to build confidence and participation.

“I knew nothing before but now I actually understand what it is and how it affects us.”

🔗 What’s Next?

The findings from this report will be shared with Cardiff Council’s Head of Planning and Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport, and will inform the next phase of youth engagement: the co-creation of a child-friendly version of the final LDP, due to be promoted in schools and the wider public in Spring 2026.

This work contributes to Cardiff’s wider ambitions as the UK’s first UNICEF Child Friendly City, and ensures that long-term city planning reflects the lived experience, hopes, and rights of the next generation.

CYC Champions Youth Voice in Recruitment, Scrutiny and Civic Life – March 2025 Participation Update

Cardiff Youth Council

In March 2025, 48 children and young people took part in 10 meaningful opportunities to influence decisions, represent their peers, and contribute to the governance and leadership of services that impact them directly. Together, they volunteered 122 hours of their time across a range of activities—demonstrating the strength and consistency of youth participation in Cardiff.

The month began with core CYC business, including a General Meeting and Executive Meeting, which brought together members to review progress on campaigns and plan for the months ahead. In addition to their collective work, CYC’s executive members took part in one-to-one supervision sessions, supporting their leadership development and wellbeing as they fulfil their roles.

Young people also contributed to the democratic scrutiny of the council’s work through a series of Scrutiny Committee meetings, where they helped hold decision-makers to account and ensured that children’s rights and experiences were reflected in policy conversations.

✨ Celebrating Welsh Identity at the St. David’s Day Civic Service

A highlight of the month was the St. David’s Day Civic Service at The City Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, where CYC Chair Emily Gao and Vice Chair Megan O’Neill attended as invited guests of Cardiff Council’s Protocol Team. Their attendance demonstrated the growing visibility and recognition of young leaders within the city’s formal civic life.

Read more about their attendance here:
Cardiff Youth Council Leaders Attend St. David’s Day Civic Service – Cardiff Youth Council

🗳️ Young People on the Interview Panel for Senior Education Leadership

In a further demonstration of meaningful youth voice, CYC members Arthur, Megan, Emily and Ffion took part in a young people’s interview panel for the appointment of the new Head of School Improvement. Their participation ensured that the perspectives of learners were embedded in the selection process for one of the most senior roles in Cardiff’s education system.

“Sitting on an interview panel for such an important role showed that our voices are valued in shaping leadership in education,” said one of the panel members. “We want leaders who will genuinely listen to young people.”

These opportunities align with Cardiff’s commitment to being a UNICEF Child Friendly City, where young people’s right to participate is embedded in both everyday practice and major strategic decisions.

Cardiff Youth Council Leaders Attend St. David’s Day Civic Service

Cardiff Youth Council

On Friday 1 March 2024, Emily Gao, Chair of Cardiff Youth Council (CYC), and Megan O’Neill, Vice Chair, proudly represented the voice of young people at the Lord Mayor’s St. David’s Day Civic Service, held at The City Parish Church of St. John the Baptist in Cardiff city centre.

Hosted by The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Bablin Molik, the annual service is a formal occasion that brings together civic leaders, elected members, community representatives and invited guests to celebrate the life and legacy of Dewi Sant (St. David), the patron saint of Wales.

Emily and Megan’s invitation to this high-profile civic event recognises the growing role of Cardiff Youth Council in public life and the city’s commitment to embedding children’s rights and youth voice at all levels of local decision-making. Their attendance reflects Cardiff’s status as the UK’s first UNICEF Child Friendly City, where young people are not only invited to participate, but are regarded as equal partners in civic and strategic conversations.

“It was an honour to attend the St. David’s Day Civic Service and represent young people from across Cardiff,” said Emily. “Being present at events like this helps show that youth leadership matters and that our contributions are valued.”

Megan echoed the sentiment, adding, “Opportunities like these show how far Cardiff has come in recognising youth voice as an essential part of civic life. We were proud to stand alongside the city’s leaders to celebrate our shared identity and values.”

The service included reflections, music and readings to mark the national day of celebration, while also highlighting the importance of unity, service, and community—values that CYC champions throughout the year through its work on local campaigns, policy influence, and youth-led scrutiny.

Cardiff Young People Continue to Lead Locally and Nationally – February 2025 Participation Update

Cardiff Youth Council

February 2025 was another strong month for youth participation in Cardiff, with 62 children and young people taking part in 12 structured opportunities—volunteering a total of 211 hours to influence decisions, represent their peers, and drive change across the city and beyond.

This month’s highlights included:

  • A Cardiff Youth Council (CYC) General Meeting and Executive Meeting, where youth-led campaigns and policy areas continued to progress;
  • A Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) meeting and dedicated MYP development day, supporting the growth of youth leadership in Cardiff;
  • Meetings of the CYC Media Group and the Task and Finish Group, where young people explored strategic communications and focused policy areas;
  • A number of Scrutiny Committee sessions, enabling young people to hold decision-makers to account and ensure the UNCRC is reflected in council decisions.

✨ Standing Up for Cardiff – and Wales – in the House of Commons

A proud moment for the city came as Cardiff’s two MYPs, Aoife and Ffion, travelled to London to attend a UK Youth Parliament Sitting in the House of Commons. Both asked questions in the Chamber—speaking up for young people in Cardiff—and Aoife served as the lead debate speaker for the whole of Wales, highlighting her strong role as a national youth voice.

You can read more about their inspiring visit here:
Cardiff Youth Leaders Represent Wales in the House of Commons – Cardiff Youth Council

“Opportunities like this show just how powerful youth voice can be—whether it’s contributing to scrutiny in Cardiff or standing up at the despatch box in Westminster,” said a spokesperson from Child Friendly Cardiff. “Aoife and Ffion represent the best of youth leadership—skilled, informed, and passionate about making change.”

Cardiff continues to uphold its status as the UK’s first UNICEF Child Friendly City, ensuring that participation isn’t a token gesture—but a central part of how the city is governed. Every hour volunteered and every voice raised in February is part of the city’s commitment to realising Article 12 of the UNCRC: the right of every child and young person to have a say in decisions that affect them.

Cardiff Youth Leaders Represent Wales in the House of Commons

Cardiff Youth Council

Cardiff’s commitment to youth voice was on full display this month as two of the city’s young leaders, Aoife and Ffion, took part in the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) Annual Sitting held in the House of Commons. As elected Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) for Cardiff and active members of Cardiff Youth Council (CYC), both made a significant impact at the national level.

In a standout moment for Wales, Aoife served as the lead debate speaker for the Welsh delegation, representing the views of young people across the country. She addressed fellow MYPs and national decision-makers from the iconic green benches, championing key issues raised through the UKYP’s Make Your Mark campaign—the UK’s largest youth ballot.

Meanwhile, Ffion took to the floor of the House of Commons to ask a question, directly engaging in the democratic process and ensuring that Cardiff’s priorities were heard at the heart of UK politics.

“Being the lead debate speaker for Wales was an incredible honour,” said Aoife. “It shows just how much young people in Wales—and in Cardiff—have to offer when they’re given the opportunity to lead.”

Ffion added, “Asking a question in the Commons was a powerful reminder that our voices matter. Youth voice isn’t just symbolic—it’s essential.”

The sitting gave young people from across the UK a platform to discuss urgent national issues, including mental health, education, inclusion, and the cost-of-living crisis. It also demonstrated the strength of Cardiff’s participatory approach, as Aoife and Ffion carried with them the views and experiences of local young people into national conversations.

A spokesperson from Child Friendly Cardiff said: “Aoife and Ffion exemplify what happens when young people are supported to lead. From their work with Cardiff Youth Council to their roles in the UK Youth Parliament, they’re helping shape the future of Wales and the UK.”

As the UK’s first UNICEF Child Friendly City, Cardiff is proud to see its young people stepping into national leadership roles and making sure the voices of children and young people are heard, respected, and acted upon.