Category: Uncategorized

•  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.

Cardiff Youth Council (CYC) held its latest General Meeting on the evening of Wednesday 18th June at the SPARK building on Maindy Road – a vibrant space that reflects the energy and commitment of its young members. The meeting saw key elections take place to shape the youth voice in Cardiff for the year ahead.

The first election was for the Chair and Vice Chair of CYC. Three candidates stepped forward to lead the Council: End Hopkins, Emily Gao and Ashika Pennadam. After a thoughtful and democratic process, members re-elected Emily Gao for a second term as Chair, recognising her dedication, experience, and continued passion for championing young people’s voices. Ashika Pennadam was elected as the new Vice Chair, bringing fresh perspective and energy to the role.

The second election determined who would represent Cardiff as the next Member of the UK Youth Parliament (MYP). Four strong candidates put themselves forward: Zachariah Koymis, Maya Jadoon, Joseph Pasley and Roha Rafiei. Following another round of speeches and voting, Maya Jadoon was elected to the prestigious role. As MYP, she will represent the concerns and ideas of Cardiff’s young people at a national level – including in the UK Youth Parliament debate at the House of Commons.

The evening was a celebration of youth democracy in action, with all candidates demonstrating courage, leadership and a commitment to making a difference.

Congratulations to Emily, Ashika and Maya – and thank you to all those who stood and took part in the elections. Cardiff Youth Council continues to thrive thanks to the passion, voices and vision of its members.

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.

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.

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.

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.