April 2026
Welcome to your April newsletter! This month, Youth Assembly Members have been busy learning from experts, sharing their voices, and building new partnerships. We’ve also taken time to celebrate the valuable contribution of our Legacy Members.
Read on to find out more…
Youth Assembly
Committees
The Youth Assembly committees have identified three key priority issues for their mandate. Over the past month, Members have been meeting with experts to shape their ideas, deepen their understanding, and begin developing projects that will drive their work forward.
🩺 Health Committee: Understanding social media addiction in young people
The Health Committee met with Wayne Denner and Dr Deborah Webster, to inform and support its ongoing work.
Both discussions focused on deepening Members’ understanding of social media use and addiction among young people, which is a key priority area for the Committee as it moves into the next stage of its work.
Youth Assembly Health Committee Members attend online meeting with Wayne Denner and Dr Deborah Webster, 29 April 2026.
📚 Education Committee: How much does it really cost to go to school in NI?
Youth Assembly Education Committee met with NICCY Interim Chief Executive Alex Tennant, to discuss the NICCY report “A ‘Free’ Education? The Cost of Education in Northern Ireland” (2017).
Members explored how the report was developed, how society has changed since then, and what the next steps should be in examining the cost of education almost 10 years on.
Both discussions focused on deepening Members’ understanding of social media use and addiction among young people, which is a key priority area for the Committee as it moves into the next stage of its work.
Youth Assembly Education Committee Members attend online meeting with NICCY Interim Chief Executive Alex Tennant, 21 April 2026.
⚖️ Rights & Equality Committee
The Rights and Equality Committee met online to discuss the direction of their current project. Members agreed to continue focusing on cultural identity, while exploring new potential angles, with a follow‑up meeting planned to decide the final focus.
Youth Assembly R&E Committee Members attend online meeting, 30 April 2026.
Goodbye to our Legacy YAMs
Over the Easter break, we said a fond farewell to our Youth Assembly Legacy Members from the 2023–2025 mandate. These Members shared their knowledge, experience and support with new Members, helping them feel confident and settled as they took on their roles within the Youth Assembly.
To mark their departure and celebrate their contribution, we enjoyed a day out at Prison Island, followed by a “cheeky Nando’s”! We are incredibly grateful for the time, commitment and positive impact this group has had, and we wish them every success in whatever comes next.
Youth Assembly Members from the 2023-2025 mandate pictured at Prison Island, 31 March 2026.
Youth Assembly
Social Media
Curious about what goes on behind the scenes? Head to our social media and follow along as our 2025–2027 mandate share insights into life as a Youth Assembly Member.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWOgVGfjRvP/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northernirelandyouthassembly/
Youth and Policing
Partnership Forum
Youth Assembly Members attended two YAPPF meetings this month. The first was an online planning meeting which was followed by an in-person meeting.
Youth Assembly Members took the opportunity to discuss relationships between Police and young people, neighbourhood policing, stop and search, and making complaints.
Youth Assembly Members attend YAPPF meeting, 28 April 2026.
Coming Up
6 May: Committee for Finance – Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill online meeting
16 May: Youth Assembly Members attend the Balmoral Show
21 May: Education Committee online meeting
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