Neli elected to Welsh Youth Parliament

Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor student Neli Rhys has been elected as a Member of the Welsh Youth Parliament.

Neli, from Llanwnda near Caernarfon, is studying A-levels in Drama, Law, Welsh and Welsh Baccalaureate at the Pwllheli campus.

She will represent Dwyfor Meirionnydd in the Welsh Youth Parliament, which was set up to ensure that young people’s voices are heard by the country’s decision-makers.

Neli said: “I’m really excited because I think it’s a really interesting process that allows young people’s voices to be heard. It’s really exciting that we can help change things in our country.

“That’s the main goal, for us to create a better country for young people.”

Young people across Wales cast their vote to elect the 60 new Members of the Welsh Youth Parliament, from more than 450 candidates.

The Parliament was established after the Senedd signed up to the Youth Engagement Charter, which sets out its commitment to listen to, respect and act on the views of young people from across Wales.

Neli plans to hold sessions for young people to air their views on the issues important to them, so that she can then represent them in the Youth Parliament.

She will meet her fellow North Wales members for the first time in Llandudno on January 25, before all the members travel to Cardiff on February 21 for the first sitting of the new Parliament in the Senedd Siambr.

There, they will decide on the three main issues they intend to work on with the Senedd over the next three years.

Neli wants to see greater support for young people with mental health issues, and improvements in the education and foster care systems.

“We foster at home so I see a lot of different aspects of the challenges faced by children in foster care,” she said.

Bethan Lloyd Owen Hughes, General Education Programme Area Manager for Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, said: “It was fantastic to hear that Neli has been chosen to represent North Wales on the Welsh Youth Parliament.

“As a college we encourage our students to try to extend their interests beyond just academic work, so I was delighted to receive the news of Neli's success.

“The Youth Parliament is an extremely important forum for Wales, and an opportunity for young people to voice their opinions and formulate policies for the future of our country.

“I am certain that Neli will be an active and conscientious member of the Senedd, and that she has a very successful future ahead of her in the public sphere in Wales.”

Neli, who hopes to work as a clinical psychologist or an occupational therapist, is enjoying her time at college so far.

She said: “I feel like college is really flexible - they do so much for so many young people. I’m enjoying all my subjects and have a good relationship with the teachers. I’ve seen a different side to education since coming to college.”