March 2025
March has been an exceptionally busy month for Youth Assembly Members, full of events, meetings and committee work.
Youth Assembly Committee Updates
Health Committee event
On Saturday 8 March, the Youth Assembly Health Committee hosted a Youth Mental Health Stakeholder event in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings. The event included workshops facilitated by Youth Assembly Members around issues which impact young people’s mental health, availability of school counselling and what a ‘mentally healthy school’ would look like.
Attendees included young people from NICCY, Angel Eyes, Belfast YMCA, Children’s Law Centre and Northern Ireland Members of the UK Youth Parliament. The views expressed at the event will inform a final report which will be presented to the Minister of Health and the Assembly’s Committee for Health later this year. Huge thanks to all the groups who attended!
In our most recent YAM Blog, Youth Assembly Member Brooke talks about her experience hosting the Youth Mental Health Stakeholder event. Click the image below to read Brooke’s blog:
Rights and Equality Committee
On 18 March, the Youth Assembly Rights and Equality Committee launched their survey on young women’s rights in schools. This survey was created to examine attitudes and behaviours towards young women including healthy relationships, rights in the curriculum, period dignity, school uniforms and PE kits, and school policies.
We have been blown away by the amazing response – over 1100 young people shared their views with us! We are grateful to all the young people who took the time to complete the survey. Youth Assembly Members will read all of the responses (yes, all of them!) and compile a report which will be presented to the Executive Office and the Assembly’s Committee for the Executive Office later this year.
Education Committee
On 31 March, the Youth Assembly Education Committee launched their survey about young people’s experience of Learning for Life and Work (LLW) in school specifically the following components: Local and Global Citizenship, Personal Development, and Employability. Members are keen to find out how LLW is viewed in schools, what is being taught and how, and if young people feel LLW prepares them for adult life.
Once the results are in, Youth Assembly Members will create a report which will be presented to the Minister of Education and Assembly’s Committee for Education later in the year.
This survey is now live and closes on 11 April. If you are a young person aged 11-21 make sure you have your voice heard and complete our survey by clicking the link below or scanning the QR code:
Women's Parliament
Last month, you’ll remember that Youth Assembly Members attended the Women’s Parliament in Parliament Buildings. The event was organised by the Assembly’s Engagement team and a range of women’s organisations who came together with MLAs and Ministers to discuss issues affecting women in Northern Ireland.
In a new edition of YAM TV filmed at the event, Youth Assembly Members Cara and Molly interviewed Claire Sugden MLA, Paula Bradshaw MLA, Farah Black from Disability Action NI, Elaine Crory from Women’s Resource and Development Agency and Karen Devlin from Women’s Aid Federation NI. They asked them what they felt is the biggest issue for women and girls in Northern Ireland right now. You can find out what they said by clicking on the image below:
Cara and Molly were also grateful to have had the opportunity to talk to Junior Minister Pam Cameron MLA, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA, Diana Armstrong MLA and the Clerk/ Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Lesley Hogg.
Youth Assembly Member Taisija told us about her experience at the Women’s Parliament in her blog which you can read by clicking on the image below:
Fourth Plenary
On 22 March, the Youth Assembly held their fourth plenary session in the Assembly Chamber at Parliament Buildings. This is the penultimate plenary for the current Youth Assembly Members.
In the morning, Members took part in a series of fun team building activities. They also prepared for their debate on ‘Votes at 16’ before they were joined for lunch by Deputy Speaker, John Blair MLA, and Chair of the Committee for Education, Nick Mathison MLA.
The plenary included a series of updates on the activities of the Youth Assembly since the third plenary in October 2024, then Youth Assembly Members debated the motion:
“That this Youth Assembly believes that the voting age should be lowered to 16 in all Northern Ireland elections.”
The lively debate ended with a division – 37 Members voted aye and 14 Members voted no. Therefore, the motion was passed.
We are grateful to the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Edwin Poots MLA who granted us permission to use the Assembly Chamber and to Deputy Speaker, John Blair MLA, who chaired the plenary.
The Official Report of the Plenary will soon be available to read on our website https://niyouthassembly.org/official-report/.
We were pleased to be joined by RTE journalist, Conor Macauley, who interviewed two of our Youth Assembly Members, Shea and Cara, about their thoughts on Votes at 16.
Click the image below to watch the video and read the article:
Justice Bill
Over the last month, Youth Assembly Members have been examining the Justice Bill which was introduced in September 2024 by the Minister for Justice, Naomi Long MLA.
On 6 March, Youth Assembly Members met online to discuss the Bill and how it will impact children and young people. During the meeting, Youth Assembly Members created a list of questions to help their understanding of the Bill in preparation for their meeting with the Minister of Justice.
On 26 March, Youth Assembly Members met with the Minister of Justice, Naomi Long MLA. The Youth Assembly Members engaged in a discussion around the importance of hearing a wide range of young people’s views on the Bill; the importance of a children’s rights perspective in these matters; the arrangements for bail, remand and custody of children; retention of biometric data for children and young people and the future possibility of raising the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility from 10 to 14 years old.
The Youth Assembly Members were very grateful for the Minister’s time and will be giving evidence on the Justice Bill to the Assembly’s Committee for Justice in April.
Speakers for Schools
On 20 March, Youth Assembly Members met with the team from Speakers for Schools, a UK-wide social mobility charity that helps empower young people to reach their potential. During the meeting, they discussed the importance of work experience for choosing a future career and the opportunities for in-person, online or hybrid work experience placements. They also highlighted the importance of closing the opportunity gap between the most and least advantaged young people through their work.
Speakers for Schools can help young people to find a work experience placement and on their website there is a free inspirational talks library. For more information, click the logo below to go to the Speaker’s for Schools website.
Volunteer Now Impact Awards
On 25 March, Youth Assembly Members were invited to the Volunteer Now Impact Awards. These awards recognise and celebrate young people across Northern Ireland for the amazing work they do as volunteers. As part of their role, Youth Assembly Members receive certificates for the volunteer hours they do. Some of our Members have already clocked up over 100 hours so far!
The event was hosted by Q Radio host, Ibe Sesay, and included presentations from young people from various organisations on their volunteer work.
The Youth Assembly team are delighted to have been awarded the ‘Empowering Youth Voice’ award!
Coming up in April
You might remember that Youth Assembly Members gave evidence on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill last year. Youth Assembly Members will meet later in April with officials from the Department of Health, the Public Health Agency and the Chief Medical Officer, Michael McBride, to discuss the progress of the Bill.
It’s not “all work and no play” at the Youth Assembly! Members will take part in a team building day out over the Easter holidays.
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