So, today it is my pleasure to call the joint Senedd to order, for the second time in our history, as both meet together. I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to the Members of the Youth Parliament joining us today for this very special session to mark the end of the first term of our Youth Parliament. This first two-year term has been innovative as you have gone about discussing and understanding the issues that are close to the hearts of the country's young people. You have represented the voice of your peers passionately, effectively and maturely, particularly during the pandemic that still affects us all.

At the end of your term, you have completed three reports and made a number of recommendations, which have been discussed and presented to the Chairs of our committees in the Senedd and to Welsh Ministers. We very much look forward today to hearing more about your work and your experiences as Members of the inaugural Welsh Youth Parliament. So, without further ado, I call on our first contributor, Sandy Ibrahim, partner elected Member for EYST Cymru, to begin the session. Sandy Ibrahim.

If we can just wait for Sandy Ibrahim's microphone. Yes, there you go—it's all ready for you, Sandy.

There are moments in life that are very emotional and where a few words can hardly describe feelings. After two years of working with the Welsh Youth Parliament it’s time to say goodbye. Myself and all of the Welsh Youth Parliament Members had the privilege to work with every single young person and adult that we’ve met through this unforgettable journey, and thank you very much for that. I personally had the privilege that you introduced me to this country from Cyprus, which is my homeland, to Wales. I had a wonderful time to work, and it was a pleasure to develop my English, my skills and most importantly me as a person, and having all of you by my side.

When I was told about the first ever Welsh Youth Parliament, my first thought was, 'I will never get into it', because I’m still new to this country, I didn't know much language, and didn’t know many people. Therefore, I thought this will not happen. But with my mother’s support and Jenny’s support and push, they’ve supported me to completely change my thought, believe in myself, and lastly, put my name in for election. Back then, this was such a big step for myself, but thankfully I passed it successfully.

Through the period that we had to start finding young people to vote for ourselves so that we could actually get selected, I was really stressed because I didn’t have an idea on how to find these votes. But thankfully, again, I had many people by my side—who are Jenny, Carol, Anna, Shahab and one of my very special teachers, which was Miss Bamsey. They have helped me from all of their hearts to pass this step successfully. I say a very special 'thank you' for all of them, because if they weren’t by my side, I wouldn’t have been here today.

All of the Welsh Youth Parliament Members are feeling really proud that we were part of something monumental and that ensured that young people's voices across Wales have been heard to the highest level. We all have met incredible people and made friends for life. And let’s not forget the Welsh Youth Parliament staff, who were the reason that we all had an amazing experience—thank you for every single minute that you handled us. I wish you all the best for the future and all the best with everyone’s goals and dreams. Hopefully a day will come that we can all meet again. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Sandy. The next speaker will be Jonathon Dawes, Dyffryn Clwyd, Vale of Clwyd. 

Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you for this incredible opportunity to speak in today's debate. Now, today, in preparation for this speech, I spoke to many of my colleagues who, of course, are sat here today, but also young people from right across Wales who have followed my work closely over the last two years, and the message was clear: the Welsh Youth Parliament has re-energised youth engagement in politics right across Wales and has ensured that young people's voices are heard at the highest level in the Senedd, with so many of the Members sat here today. The Welsh Youth Parliament has also shown the power that young people have in driving the policy agenda in Wales—on the Welsh language, mental health, climate change, votes at 16 and, of course, life skills in the curriculum, we have been able to make an impact. 

But out of all the conversations I had, there was one that really stood out for me, and it was with somebody I went to school with, who I fondly remember told me time and time again that she disliked politics. And she said to me, Llywydd, 'Jonathon, your passion and the dedication of the Welsh Youth Parliament as a whole has shown the influence that young people can have in their community, and it's inspired me to make a difference'. But now, more than ever, I think that that quote shows that our work hasn't just re-energised Welsh politics in terms of youth engagement, but it has connected those who previously felt disenfranchised with these vital debates that, ultimately, are going to impact their future. 

Now, while I'm so proud of all the work we have done, in particular my work in representing the Vale of Clwyd and, of course, the young people's voices in education through my work in promoting life-saving skills and, of course, life skills in the curriculum, where I believe as a collective we have shown strength and unity is during the COVID-19 pandemic. From delivering food parcels to founding one of my favourite podcasts, Young, Female & Opinionated—I know the founder is on this call and speaking later—throughout the pandemic, the Welsh Youth Parliament Members have come together and stepped up to serve their community. We've also had the opportunity throughout the pandemic to raise issues that matter to young people, particularly around education, mental health and the green recovery to create the jobs of the future, with many of the Ministers here today, providing young people with a voice, and I really thank the First Minister and other Ministers who have given time to us to raise these issues. 

Now, Llywydd, it has been an incredible honour and privilege for me as an individual to serve the Vale of Clwyd over the last two years, and I want to say a massive 'thank you' and pay tribute to absolutely everybody who has supported my work over the last two years, and particularly you, the incredible unsung heroes that are the Welsh Youth Parliament team, the young people here today and, of course, many of the Members in the Chamber. From organising local litter picks to being a keynote speaker at the Cymru'n Cofio event alongside you, Llywydd, it has been a pleasure. But, of course, I must give a special mention to the votes at 16 panel we both sat on in June, which, I have to say, was a blast from start to finish. 

Now, these are the words I would like to finish with. I think it's fair to say that, as a group of individuals, we all have our political differences, some more than others, but, ultimately, I have never, ever met a more dedicated, passionate and positive group of individuals than my colleagues sat alongside me today. Their commitment not just to representing the young people of Wales, but to representing their constituency is outstanding, and I think it certainly sets a precedent for future Welsh Youth Parliaments for years to come. 

Now, throughout the two years, we put our political differences aside and focused on the issues that unite us and not divide us, and always putting the interests of young people first, and that is the legacy we leave—one of unity and not one of division, and the other that when young people really do use their voices and speak up on the issues that matter to them, they really can inspire change in Welsh politics. Thank you. 

Diolch, Jonathon. Sophie Billinghurst is next, and she is the partner Member of the Senedd Ieuenctid for Talking Hands. Sophie Billinghurst. 

Good afternoon. My name is Sophie Billinghurst and I'm a partner elected Member representing Talking Hands, which is the charity that supports young people with hearing loss and their families in Swansea. Being a Member of the first Welsh Youth Parliament has been an amazing experience. It has had a big impact on my knowledge of politics; before becoming a Member, I had hardly any knowledge on politics, but now I have a lot more. Having Members from different backgrounds and different views meant that a wider variety of people were able to have their voices heard. This worked well because it allowed voices to be heard from communities that may not have been heard before, because of barriers such as communication barriers in the deaf community, but having elected Members such as me meant we could voice their views.

In the last two years, we have heard many powerful speeches and so many powerful stories off other amazing Members. We have all worked together to not only represent different parts of Wales, but to represent different organisations in Wales, to make a difference in three committees. Hopefully, seeing the work that we have done over the last two years will empower young people to carry on and make a difference to younger generations in Wales. Thank you for listening.

Diolch, Sophie. Angel Ezeadum is the next speaker. Angel is the Member for the partner organisation of Race Council Cymru. Angel Ezeadum.

Diolch, Llywydd. First of all, I personally would like to express my gratitude to the Youth Parliament for being so inclusive throughout the duration of our term. As an ethnic minority, the representation we have is low, and from the little representation we do obtain, we are often portrayed negatively in the media and society. However, from the countless opportunities that have been provided for me and other Members elected from partner organisations to represent our marginalised groups, we have been able to make breakthroughs and ensure that the voices of minorities are still heard and valued as much as the majority.

Take the pandemic—BAME people were amongst the most vulnerable to the virus, hence it was ever so important to find solutions and work in cohesion with members of the community to tackle this issue. I had the chance to receive questions from my partner organisation, Race Council Cymru, and specifically the national BAME youth forum, surrounding young people and ethnic minorities' concerns about COVID-19 to ask the First Minister. To be able to have a personal discussion with such an important figure was truly fantastic, and emphasised the importance and necessity for all types of people, regardless of race, religion, gender, age and so on, to be part of influential discussions that affect their lives.

As I mentioned before the importance of positive representation, I aspire, one day, to see a more diverse Welsh Parliament. The amount of people who are discouraged before even starting, as they lack self-belief due to not seeing themselves in a political position, is unbelievable, and that is why the partner organisation initiative is so important. Just as we as Members are diverse, so too are the topics that we have covered. I've been proud to give passionate speeches and cover pieces on subjects such as Black Lives Matter and Black History Month, the environment and knife crime, but none of what I've accomplished could be without the successful running from the staff.

I had two main aims when I applied for the Welsh Youth Parliament: to cater for all and to give the voiceless a voice, and I honestly hope that I have achieved that over my term and that the work that we have done can be continued in years to come to pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse Wales. Diolch.

Diolch, Angel. Ffion Griffith is the next speaker—Ffion Griffith of Islwyn.

Diolch, Llywydd. From the beginning of our time as Welsh Youth Parliament Members, we have seen the importance and the significance of mental health in the lives of young people across Wales, with 36 per cent of the young people that responded to our very first survey naming emotional and mental health support as one of their main priorities. With the support of over two thirds of the Welsh Youth Parliament, we formed our emotional and mental health support committee after our first residential meeting, which includes 26 Members of the Welsh Youth Parliament from across Wales. Since establishing the committee, we as Members have engaged with young people, mental health charities, experts and politicians, with the aim of emphasising the need for better emotional and mental health support for young people in Wales.

Our residential meetings have given us opportunities to have discussions with some of the most influential people with regard to mental health in Wales, and have also allowed us to hear about the important work done by the Children, Young People and Education Committee to support young people's mental health. Additionally, these meetings provided us with space to engage in a question and answer session with young people to highlight the need for conversations surrounding mental health. We were then able to continue this discussion as we held our Let's Talk About Mental Health event during Welsh Youth Parliament Week, giving young people the opportunity to share their views on mental health provision in Wales. This information, alongside the results from our emotional and mental health support surveys, which were completed by over 1,400 young people across Wales, helped guide our regional and committee meetings. Across all four regions, key themes of stigma, training, preventative care and communication were highlighted, demonstrating the need for development and growth with regard to mental health in Wales. These themes then ultimately formed the foundations of our report and recommendations, which were published on 9 October 2020.

Split into two categories, one surrounding information and awareness and the other barriers to support, our committee's 'Let's Talk About Mental Health.' report echoes the opinions and concerns of young people across Wales. From improving the quality of information material to the offering of more and better anonymous support services, our recommendations acknowledge that every young person has a mental health. Whilst we believe that all of our recommendations are equally important with regard to bettering mental and emotional health in Wales for young people, there are some key recommendations that we would like to highlight as a committee.

Our fourth recommendation encapsulates the need for a one-stop shop of information, resources and support surrounding mental health. We as a committee are very pleased to hear of the Welsh Government's effort to develop this over the Hwb platform, as we believe it demonstrates an understanding of the importance of young people's mental health, particularly during this difficult time. Nonetheless, we would like to further emphasise the need for better promotion of this resource, ensuring that each and every child across Wales is not only aware of its existence, but feels comfortable in accessing the information.

We'd also like to highlight our sixth recommendation: the need for mental health to be taught consistently across Wales with greater frequency. The committee welcomes the opportunity for mental health education to come with the development of the new curriculum, however, we are concerned about how consistent the delivery will be. It is essential that young people across Wales have access to the same quality of mental health education, regardless of their location or background, and we must question, therefore, how one can ensure that this is the case under the new curriculum. Consistency must be at the heart of mental health education across Wales.

The final recommendation we would like to highlight is the need for an urgent review of child and adolescent mental health services and other mental health support services. Again, it is great to hear that the Welsh Government has already been working on this issue, giving £8 million extra each year to improve CAMHS services. However, we as a committee are calling for consistent reviews and updates of our mental health services here in Wales. It is essential that we do not become complacent. There is not one solution to bettering mental health services in Wales, and therefore, consistent analysis and reviews are really essential to help better mental health services for young people across Wales.

Every young person has mental health and it is essential that the policies of our future Government and Senedd reflect this. We must continue to pave the way for better emotional and mental health support for young people across Wales, and as a committee, we hope that the work of the next Welsh Youth Parliament, Members of the sixth Senedd and the new Welsh Government will prioritise this issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Ffion. Ffion-Hâf Davies is next. Ffion-Hâf Davies, the Member for Gower.

Thank you, Llywydd. In February 2019, we as a Youth Parliament chose littering and plastic waste as one of our priority issues. As Members, we have been having conversations within our constituents, with our partner organisations, at eisteddfodau and at our residential and regional meetings to try to understand the views of young people on the problem. Unfortunately, COVID pushed everything online, and so we gathered all of our data and drew up our report during the pandemic. In spite of this, we persevered with virtual events such as Youth Parliament Week, and the National Eisteddfod helped us to ensure that the voices of young people were heard.

In November 2020, we published our report as a committee, and it contained 10 recommendations. We called for a greater emphasis on educating young people across Wales and the negative impacts of littering and plastic waste, and how young people could help address these issues. We believe that local authorities should review their procurement processes in order to ensure that the criteria used to choose suppliers reflect environmental and well-being objectives. This includes schools, in order to ensure that educational institutions can support the work of achieving sustainability targets. The ultimate goal is to reduce as much single-use plastic waste as possible. We also call on the Welsh Government to take significant and urgent steps to halt the production of single-use plastics, with some crucial exceptions, and to consider approaches such as banning the production of single-use plastics and a deposit-return scheme.

I would like to thank the Minister for environment for her response to our recommendations. This shows young people across Wales that our voices really are being taken seriously. However, the plastic problem is clearly not solved. Therefore, we need to drive forward the agenda and ensure that it is a major issue for the next Senedd. It would also be great to see a plastic-free Senedd—something that would again emphasise the importance of our work and set an example for other institutions to follow. We are calling for decisive and urgent action within the next six to 12 months.

Finally, we'd also like to call on the next Youth Parliament to continue to call for changes in line with our recommendations. We have only served a two-year term, but in that time, we have ensured that the voices of young people are being heard and that the plastic problem is being taken seriously. Our only hope now is that you will all continue to address this problem and keep our work alive. Thank you.

Diolch, Ffion-Hâf. Harrison Gardner is the next speaker—Harrison Gardner from Clwyd West.

Thank you, Llywydd. As a Member of the Welsh Youth Parliament's life skills in the curriculum committee, we, fortunately, were able to complete the majority of our work before the pandemic struck. We consulted over 2,500 young people, parents and educators in summer shows and Welsh Youth Parliament committee events across Wales, publishing our findings and recommendations in our report, ‘Life Skills, Skills for Life’. With the new Curriculum for Wales on the way, our consultation offered a snapshot of the way that life skills and personal and social education are being taught in schools and colleges across Wales.

Our consultation pointed to several inconsistencies in young people’s experiences of learning about important subjects, such as political education, sex education, financial education and first aid, to name but a few. As the Welsh Government continued to refine the new curriculum, our recommendations included that they should provide a comprehensive list to educators in Wales of the life skills that must be taught within the six areas of learning and experience; ensure that schools in all parts of Wales have the resources to implement the new curriculum to its full potential; and ensure that teachers have the right training to be able to teach a number of new topics that will be new to them as part of the new curriculum.

Since presenting our recommendations to the Minister for Education in the Siambr in October 2019, we have been able to continue our scrutiny work in meetings with Government officials, practitioners who are developing the areas of learning and experience, and officials at Qualifications Wales who are reforming the assessment structure in Wales. We have also helped to develop the votes-at-16 educational resources in advance of this year’s Senedd election.

Whilst we, as a committee, appreciate the Welsh Government’s response to our recommendations and the reasons given for not accepting a few of them, we would like to take this opportunity to emphasise our remaining concerns. We accept the Welsh Government’s argument that it goes against the spirit of the new curriculum to publish a mandatory list of subjects for teachers to teach, and we acknowledge the Welsh Government’s concern that this would be a backwards step towards the old tick-box curriculum that the new curriculum aims to move away from.

However, we remain concerned as a committee that a lack of clear guidance could lead to greater inconsistency, and that the success of the areas of learning and experience as they currently stand is too dependent on how individual schools interpret them. Furthermore, digital poverty in Wales has become a prominent issue due to the pandemic—an issue that will only worsen and lessen the impact of the new curriculum without appropriate interventions. Therefore, we urge the Welsh Government to consider this issue further as it finalises the new curriculum.

We also urge them to commit funding to ensure that pupils in all parts of Wales have the opportunity to experience every element of the curriculum, and to invest in training and centralised resources for teachers. We firmly believe that this would lead to a meaningful learning experience for every pupil. Thank you.

Thank you, Harrison. Our next contributor is Gwion Rhisiart, representing Cardiff Central.

Thank you, Llywydd. It's a privilege to be able to represent the young people of Cardiff Central once again, and it's difficult to believe that it has been two years since our first national meeting, where we selected our three priorities. Since then, we've raised a number of issues that are important to young people in making Wales a better place in which to grow up as a young person. 

However, we wouldn't have been able to do this during the pandemic without the assistance of Members of the Senedd and Welsh Government Ministers. Over the past few months, the First Minister, the Minister for Education, the Minister for health and the Counsel General have all given of their time to meet with us virtually on a number of occasions. The opportunity to meet with Ministers, committee Chairs, the children's commissioner and the future generations commissioner has been invaluable.

The opportunity for us, as Members, to question those who represent us about exams, mental health support and job opportunities during the pandemic means that we can provide answers to young people who are concerned about their future. The Minister for Education has also given so much of her time in discussing the implications of delaying exams, as well as gathering our views on online learning. Again, the opportunity to articulate the views of young people to Members of the Senedd and Ministers has allowed their views to be taken into account when choices are being made. On behalf of all Members of the Welsh Youth Parliament, I thank you sincerely for your time.

We, as Members, have also been very fortunate to appear on various media platforms in Wales. During our time as Members, my colleagues and I have appeared on Radio Cymru to discuss our work, including our recommendations for a new curriculum and mental health support for young people. This has been instrumental in raising awareness among young people of our work, and in discussing issues with pupils, teachers and parents in all parts of Wales. In addition to this, I was very lucky to be able to appear on Wales Live with Hannah Blythyn and Andrew R.T. Davies in order to discuss votes at 16 and the representation of young people in politics. Finally, Betsan Angell and I appeared on Heno when we released our report on life skills in the curriculum. It was a privilege to be able to discuss our recommendations and our hopes for the new curriculum.

Therefore, in conclusion, I'd like to thank all the journalists and Members of the Senedd who have helped to raise awareness of our work. We really appreciate this. Together, we've succeeded in taking action to improve the lives of young people in Wales as we recover from this turbulent period. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Gwion. And our final speaker from the Youth Parliament will be Maisy Evans from Torfaen.

Thank you very much, Llywydd. It's a privilege, once again, to speak to you all.

People often ask me whether, if I could go back in time, I'd change anything. And simply, no. Absolutely not. I'd stand for election, and I'd throw myself at every opportunity time and time again. I really do mean it when I say that the last two years of my life have been the best yet. Amongst ups and a few downs, I've met some incredible people, developed friendships that I'll forever cherish and have had unforgettable experiences.

This year has pushed us all to our limits, personally and professionally alike. COVID-19 has impacted our lives more than anyone could have imagined. And, undoubtedly, it's been tough. But nonetheless, our Welsh Youth Parliament—the very first of its kind—has proven that young people are in fact a force for good in our nation and beyond.

I'd like to take this moment to thank you all, my fellow Welsh Youth Parliament Members, the staff behind our work, the staff behind the technology even—and especially today—and most importantly, each of you, the Members of our Senedd.

On 26 June 2019, we held our very first joint Chamber session, and during that session I was honoured to give the opening remarks, and I read to you a declaration that would shape, and has shaped, our relationship. I'm certain that that day will forever be in my mind, and it's a moment that I take great pride in, and I know that I always will.

Once again, I'd like to draw your attention to some of the points outlined in that declaration. It states the Welsh Parliament and the Welsh Youth Parliament will work together to ensure that our work is an integral part of decision making in Wales, and that the Welsh Parliament will commit to the rights of young people and operate on the principles of openness and transparency.

My greatest thanks of all go to the Members of the Senedd who have committed to engage with us, and to not only hear our voices, but to listen to us. During our term, we've provided you with many realistic recommendations on ensuring young people are equipped for life, on emotional and mental health support, and on protecting our only planet.

It is vital that you, as the Welsh Parliament, continue to work with young people from across the country. With the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child enshrined in Welsh law, it is your duty to listen to our views. This Welsh Youth Parliament is evidence of your commitment to article 12, which states that young people have the right to express their views freely, and for their views to be truly considered.

I'm grateful to have had that platform to share my views, and even more grateful for the opportunity to influence real change at the highest levels possible. With the voting age having been lowered to 16, young people in Wales can now do exactly that—influence change. It's very exciting. I urge every young person aged 14 and over to go online and to register to vote—it just takes minutes—because, at long last, you have that opportunity to make your voice heard.

As the inaugural Wales Youth Parliament draws to a close, I hope that you're all ready and willing to meet the next cohort of young leaders. And never forget that we, as young people, are not only leaders of the future, but the leaders of today. Thank you all very much. It's been a privilege on all occasions. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Maisy, and thank you to all our contributors, and to those who have made such a huge contribution during this Youth Parliament term.

I now call on the First Minister to respond. First Minister.

Well, Llywydd, I'd like thank all Members of the Youth Parliament for their contributions this afternoon, but also, as the Llywydd said, for everything that you have done in establishing the Youth Parliament in such a successful manner. I have benefited from meeting with a number of you on a regular basis over this exceptional year. Hearing the pinnacle of your work this afternoon has been our pleasure and an opportunity for us all to learn lessons. Your period in post is now drawing to a close, as is the Senedd itself. I'm sure that every Member of Government would wish to wish you well in the next steps in your lives, and those next steps will be even more successful as a result of the unique experiences that you have had as the founders of the Welsh Youth Parliament.

Llywydd, I'm not going to try to respond to all the different speakers we've heard, but Sandy was right in the very first contribution, that endings are inherently emotional moments, and I'm sure that will be true for all Members of the Youth Parliament. Sandy shared her story with us, and I think we were all glad to hear it. Wales is lucky to have you here, as we have been lucky with all the young people who've played their part in this very first Senedd.

Shall I just focus briefly on three things that I think I drew out of all the contributions we've heard? First, how overlapping the agendas have been between the things that you have been talking about in the Senedd Ieuenctid and the things that we talk about every week on the floor of the Senedd itself: mental health, climate change, education, the new curriculum, how we will forge a future that is better for us all. Secondly, the importance of plurality and diversity: the way in which hearing different experiences and different voices changes the nature of the conversation, enriches it, of course, but also means that we see things in new and different ways. I thought that came through very powerfully in a series of contributions. And finally, that in the work that you do and the work that we do, the work is never over. We never come to the end of the day and can draw a line under what we have been discussing and think, 'Well, that's that done, then.' The work always goes on, there are always challenges that we haven't thought of, there are always new chances to advance the causes that matter to us as individuals and as a nation. And in hearing of the work of the committees, I'm very glad that so much of what you have proposed has been accepted by the Government, and I'm not surprised at all to hear that there are things that you would want to go on advocating, making the case for, looking to secure further changes in the future.

So, thank you very much to each and every one of you for everything that you have done and for the opportunity once again to meet with you and to hear from you all this afternoon.

Diolch. On behalf of the Conservatives, Laura Jones.

Diolch, Llywydd. It is a great honour to say a few words on behalf of the official opposition, the Welsh Conservative group, following such articulate and thoughtful contributions from all of our elected Youth Parliament Members.

I feel a great affinity with our Youth Parliament Members, having been the youngest parliamentarian in the UK when I was elected to the Senedd, the then Welsh Assembly, back in 2003 at 24. For me, the establishment of the Welsh Youth Parliament is the standout achievement of this parliamentary term and will stand as one of the great successes in Wales since 1999.

Over the last two and a bit years, Members of the Youth Parliament have made an outstanding contribution to public life in Wales, but, more tangible than that, they have directly influenced law making in this Parliament. When we debated the new Curriculum for Wales in the Children, Young People and Education Committee, the most powerful contributions were those from young people themselves, from you, from the likes of Jonathon, who I can see on my screen now. Your scrutiny and campaigning on the role of life skills in the curriculum has been particularly compelling, and my group completely agree that key skills, such as first aid and British sign language, should be included in the curriculum.

On the issue of plastic waste, as outlined by Ffion-Hâf, you have spoken up for so many young people who are crying out for change, and have come up with some excellent suggestions. We've been motivated by distress at what humans are gradually doing to this planet. And Sir David Attenborough only said yesterday that in some ways we are already too late to prevent some of the drastic effects of climate change, so we really do need to act now, and you've made that abundantly clear.

As outlined by Ffion, you've made meaningful interventions and raised important questions on the issue of young people's mental health too, which has been a taboo subject for far too long. This is a massive area of concern for all of us right now, as you'll see from our contributions in the Senedd across the parties, as we worry about the impact that prolonged lockdowns, school closures and just the inability to socialise with friends is having on young people.

Throughout this pandemic, children and young people have sacrificed so much, largely to keep older and more vulnerable people safe. In the coming months and years, as we emerge from this pandemic, we all have a duty to repay that debt and do far more to support young people and better meet their needs. We as MSs have a responsibility to take action on the issues that matter to you, our youngest generation. 

In conclusion, Llywydd, I'd like to wish all 60 Members of the Welsh Young Parliament well in whatever direction their future careers take them, and thank them so much for all that they've done. They are outstanding representatives of their generation. You should all be so proud of your achievements in just two short years. We all as MSs across the board are certainly proud of each and every one of you. You all clearly have bright futures ahead of you, and you've all given us hope, and we look forward to the contributions of future Youth Parliaments. Thank you. Diolch.

Leader of Plaid Cymru next—Adam Price.

'The youth parliament will give Wales' young people a democratic voice at a national level and empower them to bring about change.'

That's how you, Llywydd, described the vision underpinning the Welsh Young Parliament at its launch. And without doubt, the Youth Parliament has delivered on that and much more, and I'm very pleased to provide my party's support to the work that's been done to date, and to provide my full support to the Youth Parliament in its further development in our next Senedd term.

In looking forward to the next Senedd, we will be facing the future. And the debate today on the basis of those topics that you covered invites us to look to the future beyond COVID, and to focus on the major challenges facing our nation and our world and the numerous crisis of our age: the climate and biodiversity crisis, as we've heard; transforming the education system in order to secure social transformation and to deliver the potential of everyone; and changing attitudes towards and strengthening mental health provision. On the basis of your success as young people over the past few years, I am confident that we will all succeed in building a better Wales. It's pressure from you as young people that's made the difference in ensuring that mental health and well-being will be enshrined in law in all aspects of the new curriculum.

Young people have led change across the world, and in the politics of Wales too over the past few years, and the climate crisis and the climate strikes are an example of this. There have been a number of protests and marches across Wales, including one that finished on the steps of the Senedd itself. Change is possible if we insist upon it: that is the hopeful core message of democracy. And it's very often young people who lead that change. You demonstrated that again in August of last year, forcing the Welsh Government to recognise the unprecedented circumstances in terms of the impact of COVID on your education. And in terms of independence, which would be the most radical change, it's the young people of Wales who are in the vanguard on the issue. And I very much hope that many of you one day will represent your generation once again in the independent Senedd of the future—and it will be your future. And given the spirit of unity and creativity and positivity that you've demonstrated, there is room for each and every one of us to believe that that future will be very bright indeed for us all.

It's truly inspiring to welcome representatives of the Youth Parliament for this Plenary session. I'm sure that some of you will aspire to become our future politicians. So, perhaps I can offer a few words of caution if you should do so. First, in whatever endeavours you find yourself involved, try at all times to keep an open mind. Whatever political philosophy you adopt, always be ready to explore other political views and ideas. Above all, I encourage you to do your research. Do not just take the statements of main media or even social media—delve deeper and attempt to approach every idea and proposition as effectively as possible.

I have to congratulate all of you on the work that you've done. You've made a very great difference to the way the Senedd has operated during the two years that you've been in existence, and you've made absolutely sure that we shall never ever be able to ignore the voice of the youth of Wales again. By creating this institution, I believe the Welsh Parliament has opened up an opportunity for the youth of this country to truly participate in matters that affect you, but don't be disappointed if some of your suggestions and ideas are rejected or not implemented. Sometimes, what we want cannot always be delivered. However, I feel you can rest assured the Senedd will respect and take on board all the views and suggestions you've put forward. After all, that is why it initiated the Youth Parliament in the first place. I thank you all for your participation in the Welsh Parliament, and I wish you well in whatever careers you choose to follow. Thank you, Llywydd.

Lynne Neagle, the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee. Lynne Neagle.

Thank you, Llywydd. One of the highlights of my time as Chair of the Senedd's Children, Young People and Education Committee has been the opportunity to watch the Youth Parliament develop. To work with its Members on the scrutiny we undertake as a committee and as a Senedd has been a genuine privilege, and I'm in no doubt that the establishment of the Youth Parliament has enriched the debate on important topics during the fifth Senedd.

Today, we've heard directly from the youth parliamentarians about everything they've achieved since their election. Describing it as impressive is an understatement. As we've heard, the Welsh Youth Parliament has sought to influence key areas of policy, including curriculum reform, emotional and mental health, and littering and plastic waste. These are not small or easy issues. My committee has grappled with two of these topics, so I can certainly say that from experience. We have been enormously grateful for the input and insight shared by the Youth Parliament's inquiries and reports in these areas.

Similarly remarkable, though, has been its ability to provide reactive and timely contributions to developing issues. The Youth Parliament provided important views to our scrutiny of the reasonable punishment Bill, for example, and we know that you've been an important voice in the ongoing discussions about how we manage and recover from the pandemic.

As a committee, we have repeatedly emphasised the importance of hearing directly from children and young people about their experiences. Ensuring that a children's rights approach is adopted for all aspects of policy, legislation and funding has been a key priority for us. As Maisy Evans said, the Welsh Youth Parliament is children's rights in action. The impact of COVID-19 has emphasised more strongly than ever the need to ensure that our children and young people have a voice and that that voice reaches all areas of public life and decision making.

I'd like to draw my remarks to a close with three final points. Firstly, I'd like to take this opportunity to say an enormous thank you to our 60 Welsh youth parliamentarians. You have set an example that will be hard to follow, but one I'm confident will inspire others to engage and participate in future. Secondly, I'd like to encourage any children and young people who are listening to consider putting themselves forward as the next generation of Welsh Youth Parliament Members. As you've heard today, you can really make a difference. Finally, I'd like to place on record my thanks to the team of staff both within the Senedd and within partner organisations who've worked so hard to establish and support the work of these remarkable young people. This last year has tested everyone in all ways, but the resilience shown by our children and young people in Wales, including the Members of our first Welsh Youth Parliament, is a source of inspiration and pride to all of us. Diolch o galon ichi i gyd.

Diolch, Lynne. And just like you, Lynne, the Youth Parliament has been one of my highlights in my term as Llywydd. We spend a lot of time in our Senedd at the moment discussing jabs in arms; the Youth Parliament has been a jab of hope in my arm over the past two years. I've loved the diversity of your backgrounds and the diversity of your political views, but all coming together to try and find common cause for the good of your communities, your peers, and for your nation. I've no doubt that this will not be the last Senedd meeting for some of you—some of you will be back at some point. But, in the meantime,

thanks for all you've contributed.

Thank you for everything you've achieved in these last two years and your legacy will live on into the next Youth Parliament, and beyond.

So, thank you very much.

I bring this part of the meeting to a close, and we'll suspend proceedings for a few minutes, before we recommence formally as just the one Senedd.

Thank you, all.

Plenary was suspended at 13:31.

The Senedd reconvened at 13:34, with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.