November 2025
November marked a period of transition for the Youth Assembly as we celebrated the outgoing Youth Assembly Members and welcomed a new cohort. Read more below!
Final Plenary for 2023-2025 Youth Assembly Members
On Saturday 1 November, we held our final plenary for the 2023-2025 Youth Assembly Members. The achievements of the outgoing Members were celebrated at a special event in Parliament Buildings, hosted by the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Edwin Poots MLA.
“We had a fantastic event for the Youth Assembly. It was really tremendous to watch the discussion that took place in the Assembly Chamber and how, over the course of those two years, those young people have matured, their speaking skills and confidence levels have improved dramatically.” – Edwin Poots MLA, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Since 2023, these young people have engaged across the Assembly, meeting with MLAs, working closely with Assembly Committees, and contributing to discussions on key issues such as changes to school uniform policies, tackling child poverty, and justice reform. The final plenary gave Members a chance to reflect on the key events and reports that shaped their mandate’s success and to express their gratitude to the Speaker during their last session in the Assembly Chamber.
The day also marked the beginning of a new chapter, as 90 incoming Youth Assembly Members and their families, representing every constituency in Northern, were welcomed to Parliament Buildings to start their two-year mandate helping shape decisions that affect young people.
To find out what happened at the event, watch the video captured on the day by following this link: Youth Assembly Final Plenary
A selection of photos from the 2023-2025 Youth Assembly’s Final Plenary at Parliament Buildings, Saturday 1 November 2025.
Top left: Youth Assembly Members take a selfie with the Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA.
Top row, middle image: 2023-2025 Youth Assembly Members pictured with Lesley Hogg, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Top right: 2023-2025 Youth Assembly pictured in the Assembly Chamber
Bottom left: Legacy Youth Assembly Members pictured on the stairs in the Great Hall
Bottom row, middle image: Youth Assembly Members Mia and James pictured from left to right with Lesley Hogg, the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Edwin Poots MLA and Deputy Speaker, John Blair MLA.
Legacy Report
At the event on 1 November, Youth Assembly Members also launched their 2023-2025 Legacy Report, highlighting the impact of their work. You can read the report on our website by following this link: Legacy Reports – Northern Ireland Youth Assembly
2023-2025 Legacy Reports pictured on launch day at final plenary on Saturday 1 November 2025 at Parliament Buildings.
Big Youth Survey
Our Big Youth Survey is now live!
Are you aged 12-21 and living in Northern Ireland? The new Youth Assembly Members need you to tell them the issues that are important to young people across Northern Ireland.
Once this survey closes on 19 December, the top 10 issues raised in the survey will be debated by the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly at their first plenary in January. Your responses will help them choose their three areas of focus for their 2025-2027 mandate.
This survey will take no more than 5 minutes to complete and we encourage you to share with young people you know!
To complete the Big Youth Survey, follow this link which will bring you to the survey homepage: https://consult.nia-yourassembly.org.uk/youth-assembly/big-youth-survey-2026/
You can read the last report from the 2024 Big Youth Survey by following this link which will bring you to the homepage of the summary report: ‘Big Youth Survey’ Summary Report – Northern Ireland Youth Assembly
Youth and Policing Partnership Forum
Youth Assembly Members recently attended a Youth and Policing Partnership Forum (YAPPF) meeting. The session involved an open discussion around how the PSNI could engage and interact with young people. Youth Assembly Members had the opportunity to engage and hear from the Assistant Chief Constable of the PSNI, Ryan Henderson. Legacy Youth Assembly Member Mia even had the opportunity to try out the PSNI’s Virtual Officer Assistance Team, which is a new video-call service offered to victims of crime as an alternative to telephone resolution or in-person attendance.
Thank you to the PSNI for involving us and hosting such an insightful event.
Youth Assembly Members attended YAPPF event, hosted by the PSNI at Newforge on Saturday 8 November 2025.
Left image: Youth Assembly branded materials alongside event materials provided on the day
Right image: Youth Assembly Mia pictured testing PSNI’s Virtual Officer Assistance Team
Online Induction Meeting
On Tuesday 11 November, we welcomed our new Youth Assembly Members and their parents/guardians for an online meeting. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the new 2025–2027 cohort, share key information ahead of their first day at Parliament Buildings later in the month, and answer their questions.
We were delighted to see Members engaging and starting to build connections with each other!
Youth Assembly Members during their online induction meeting on Tuesday 11 November.
2025-2027 Youth Assembly Induction Day
On Saturday 29 November, we held an induction day in Parliament Buildings for the new Youth Assembly Members. Throughout the day they engaged in teambuilding activities and had the opportunity to discuss and agree the content of the Big Youth Survey, which will inform the Youth Assembly’s priorities for the next two years.
Youth Assembly Members attend their induction day at Parliament Buildings on Saturday 1 November 2025.
World Children's Day
On Thursday 20 November 2025, Youth Assembly Members attended the World Children’s Day event at Parliament Buildings, hosted by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY). The event, sponsored by MLAs Robbie Butler, Cara Hunter, and Nuala McAllister, brought together young people from across Northern Ireland to discuss key issues including children’s rights, poverty, Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE), and climate change. The NICCY Youth Panel delivered an engaging programme and launched a report highlighting young people’s priorities. This event was a powerful reminder that youth voices matter and must be heard.
Images from NICCY World Children’s Day event held in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, Thursday 20 November 2025.
Top left: Youth Assembly Members with Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Chris Quinn.
Top right: Youth Assembly Members taking part in a roundtable discussion with Cara Hunter MLA.
Bottom left: Youth Assembly Members with Robbie Butler MLA
Bottom right: Event materials displayed on a table
Coming Up
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Annual Human Rights Statement
New YAM training with Assembly Education Service
If you need to reach us or have ideas and suggestions, please contact us at:
If you’re aren’t already subscribed, sign up now to receive this newsletter straight to your inbox.
