May 2026

With exam season well underway, our Members have been juggling revision alongside their Youth Assembly roles. Even so, their commitment has shone through, with Members coming together to continue driving their work forward.

This month saw us head to the Balmoral Show, as well as preparing to give evidence on a range of Bills, which are all valuable opportunities to ensure young people’s voices are heard.

Keep reading to catch up on all the highlights from May…

Balmoral Show

On Saturday 16 May, Youth Assembly Members took to the road and headed to the Eikon Exhibition Centre just outside Belfast for the Balmoral Show – the biggest agri-food show in Northern Ireland.

It was a busy and exciting day, with Members meeting and chatting with the public, raising awareness of the Youth Assembly, and sharing the important work they do to represent young people across Northern Ireland.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the visit was hosting a lively Q&A session with the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Edwin Poots MLA, giving attendees the chance to ask questions and learn more about the work of the Assembly. Members also had the chance to meet with the deputy First Minister, Emma-Little Pengelly and discuss their priorities for their Youth Assembly Committees.

Youth Assembly Members pictured with the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Edwin Poots MLA, and Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Lesley Hogg, Balmoral Show, 16 May 2026.

You can watch a recap from our day at the Balmoral Show 2026 here: https://niyouthassembly.org/welcome-to-y-a-m-tv/

Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill

Youth Assembly Members recently met online with officials from the Assembly’s Committee for Finance which is scrutinising the Marriage and Civil Partnerships Bill. Members carefully examined the clauses and agreed a shared position.

This Bill makes changes to who can carry out marriage ceremonies and raises the minimum age for marriage and civil partnership to from 16 to 18 years of age.

You read more about the Bill here: https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/legislation/2022-2027-mandate/primary-legislation-bills-22-27-mandate/marriage-and-civil-partnership-bill/

This is a significant Bill for young people’s rights, with strong links to the global movement to end child marriage, led by Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage.

You can find out more about the global campaign to end child marriage here: https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/en/

Our next steps will be to collate our views and present them in person to the Committee for Finance on 17 June helping to ensure that young people’s voices are heard as this important legislation moves forward.

Youth Assembly Members attend online meeting for the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, 6 May 2026.

Youth Assembly Members attend online meeting for the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill, 6 May 2026.

Private Members' Bills

On 19 May, Members met online to discuss two Private Members’ Bills. A Private Member’s Bill is an idea for a new law which comes from an individual MLA.

Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill

This Bill, sponsored by Pat Sheehan MLA, aims to ensure there are enough teachers and staff to support and grow Irish-medium education in Northern Ireland through a dedicated workforce plan.

Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill

This Bill sponsored by Danny Baker MLA, seeks to provide payments to support children entitled to free school meals during school holidays.

Members had the opportunity to discuss the Bills in detail and prepare their views ahead of giving formal evidence to the Assembly’s Committee for Education in June.

You can read more about these Bills here:

Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill: https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/legislation/2022-2027-mandate/primary-legislation-bills-22-27-mandate/education-holiday-meal-payments-bill/

Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill: https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/legislation/2022-2027-mandate/primary-legislation-bills-22-27-mandate/irish-medium-education-workforce-plan-bill/

Youth Assembly Members attend online meeting with Danny Baker MLA, 19 May 2026.

Youth Assembly Committees

Youth Assembly committees have been meeting with experts and attending events to progress their research projects.

🩺 Health Committee: Understanding social media addiction in young people

On 21 May, Members attended an event hosted by Volunteer Now which brought together young people aged 13–15 to explore the question: What should growing up online look like. This session will feed into a UK-wide consultation led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, looking into how children and young people are supported across social media, gaming, AI, and the wider digital world and what needs to change.

Well done to Committee Member Orlaith who spoke on social media use the following morning on BBC Radio UIster! Listen to the segment from 32:35 here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002wks0

Youth Assembly Health Committee Members attend meeting hosted by Volunteer Now and #iWill, 21 May 2026.

📚 Education Committee: How much does it really cost to go to school in NI?

The Committee met on 21 May with Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick (Ulster University) and Becca Bor (NI Anti-Poverty Network). They discussed the links between education costs and child poverty in Northern Ireland; key school-related expenses; barriers to participation in activities and their long-term impacts; how costs affect attendance and outcomes; and families’ lived experiences of school costs.

Youth Assembly Education Committee Members attend online meeting with experts Dr. Ciara Fitzpatrick and Becca Bor, 21 May 2026.

⚖️ Rights & Equality Committee

The Rights and Equality Committee met to discuss their new topic, looking at Ending Violence Against Women and Girls from the perspective of young men. They explored potential data collection strategies and refined their research focus.

Next month, they will meet with experts and stakeholders to gather more information on this important issue.

To read the 2023-2025 Youth Assembly Rights & Equality Committees report titled ‘Young Women’s Rights in School’ visit this link:

Rights and Equality Committee Report

Youth Assembly Rights and Equality Committee Members attend online meeting, 26 May 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/

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