Jack
Youth Assembly Member
Hi everyone! My name is Jack, I’m 13, and I’m from Ballymena.
I’m genuinely so incredibly excited to be part of the Youth Assembly. I was actually inspired to get involved because my granny’s cousin, Paul Frew, is in politics, and I wanted to learn a lot more about how Northern Ireland’s politics really work—it’s complicated!
Being active in my community is important to me. I’m also part of a Junior Orange Lodge with Colin Crawford, who also used to be an MLA, which has given me valuable experience in teamwork and discipline. Just being considered for this chance to actually make a difference and meet other people who care is brilliant. I’m ready to dive in, but I also have some really clear goals for what I hope to achieve while I’m here. First up, and maybe this is a little embarrassing, but I want to get way more confident with public speaking! Standing up in front of a big group to talk can be super nerve-wracking, but I know that if I have a big idea, I need to be able to talk about it clearly and passionately so people really listen. Being part of the Assembly will give me the perfect practice space to shake off those jitters and start finding my voice. I believe in speaking up for what’s right and getting better at talking will help me do that way more effectively when it matters.
My biggest goal, and the one I truly hope I can make a difference with, is centred around a passion of mine: improving recognition for the Special Educational Needs (SEN) sector in education and beyond. I want to make sure all students get the right support. This means making better and bigger SEN schools across Northern Ireland. Imagine classrooms designed perfectly for every kind of learner, with enough dedicated staff so no student feels rushed or left behind. Every young person deserves the best support possible, and making sure our SEN provision is top tier is my number one priority.
It’s easy for adults to talk at us, but I want to make sure the youth voice is actually being heard. I plan to do this by focusing on clear, simple communication. If we want young people to care and get involved, we have to make sure everyone knows exactly what is going on. I want to help create better, modern ways to share information so that our ideas don’t just stay within the Assembly but reach every young person in Ballymena and beyond.
Finally, I’m genuinely just so excited about meeting new people and gaining so much more knowledge about politics. If we all work together and learn from each other, I know we can make the changes our community needs.
