– in the Senedd at 4:17 pm on 10 February 2021.
Item 6, then, is the 90-second statements. And just a gentle reminder to you all: the clue is in the title, '90 seconds'. John Griffiths.
This week marks UK Student Volunteering Week. Entering its twenty-first year, it aims to celebrate the impact of student volunteers and encourage students to engage in civic life. Today, as chair of the all-party group on further education, I'd like to share a story brought to my attention by ColegauCymru—the story of one former Grŵp Llandrillo Menai learner.
Nineteen-year-old Tirion Thomas from Bala has racked up over 500 hours of volunteering for both the college and the community. A keen rugby player, she has volunteered alongside stakeholders from her local rugby club in Bala. Her hard work was recognised in December last year, when she won BBC Wales's Sports Personality of the Year's unsung hero award, narrowly missing out on claiming the UK title.
During her time at college, Tirion was instrumental in developing and supporting the newly established active ambassadors programme, developing leaders of the future and promoting the importance of health and well-being. She was also involved in the period dignity campaign recently launched by the college. Now studying midwifery at Swansea University, Tirion continues to be a role model and last year turned her attention to help fellow coaches by creating a young coaches network.
I'm sure that all Members will join me in celebrating Tirion's successes so far. She's a shining example of the volunteering community and what further education learners contribute. I'm sure that we all wish her the best for what will be a very bright future.
Thank you. Jack Sargeant.
Diolch yn fawr, Deputy Llywydd. National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity to recognise just how important apprenticeships, apprentices and apprenticeship providers are to our economy.
Previously to entering the Senedd, I was an engineering apprentice myself before gaining my degree with the support of the company and becoming a research and development engineer. Deputy Llywydd, if we're going to build back greener and fairer from the coronavirus pandemic, we will need more engineering apprenticeships.
For me, this week is an opportunity to encourage others to take up apprenticeships, but also to say thank you to those who personally train, and personally train the next generation—people like Peter Holden, John Steele, Mike Halliday and everyone at DRB Group on the Deeside industrial estate. These are the people who trained me, and trained alongside me, and continue to support me. Llywydd, I'm proud to have served my time as an apprentice, and I'm proud that I will always be a member of the DRB family, where I served my apprenticeship. Thank you.
Thank you. Helen Mary Jones.
Thank you. Deputy Presiding Officer, we all know, I think, that Twitter isn't always the happiest of places. But, last week, my timeline was literally illuminated by hundreds of beautiful lanterns. The lanterns were made by children across Carmarthenshire as part of the Lightbringers Project, the brainchild of Jayne Marciano. The project was inspired by a wonderful children's book, The Lightbringers—Y Lanternwyr, yn Gymraeg.
The book is a true Welsh product, written and illustrated by Karin Celestine of Monmouthshire and published by Graffeg in Llanelli. It's in two parts. The first is a story of a journey taken by little creatures as they seek to return light to the earth at midwinter, centring on the idea that light will always return, even from the darkest days. The second part is a short introduction to the traditions that the story evokes: the Mari Lwyd and the wassail.
The project saw pupils in their homes and in their hubs reading the story, learning about the traditions and making beautiful lanterns, bringing light into dark times. The project also gave opportunities for the children to express their feelings about lockdown and talk about their hopes for the future. The lanterns are incredibly varied, made from a wide range of materials: exquisite painting on glass, colourful paper, clever use of cardboard and plastics and tins, made by children as old as 11 and as young as three. They made my timeline glow. For me, they did exactly what was intended. They brought light in dark times. The lanterns made me smile, and seeing the children's proud, smiling faces made me feel really hopeful, and I'm sure that I speak for many others who saw these lovely lanterns too.
I understand that there are now plans to expand the project beyond Carmarthenshire. So, I want to say thank you. I had thought to try and list all of the schools that I knew of that took part, but there are just too many, and I don't want to try the Deputy Presiding Officer's patience. So, I can't name them all, but thank you all so much—school, staff, families, and most of all the children. Diolch yn fawr iawn. You are true lightbringers, each and every one of you.
You are true lightbringers, each and every one of you. The sun will rise again over the hills.
Thank you. In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, I will now suspend the proceedings until 4.30 p.m., that's 16:30. When we resume, we will proceed immediately to the Stage 3 debate on the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill. So, the meeting stands adjourned until 4.30 p.m.