October 2026
Welcome to the October edition of the Youth Assembly Newsletter. As we reach the halfway point of the Youth Assembly 2025-2027 mandate, Members continue to have many opportunities to engage, have their voices heard and make a difference on issues that matter to them.
Here’s what they’ve been up to this month.
Plenary Debate on Social Media
Last month we updated you on the Youth Assembly debate on the proposed social media restrictions.
Following the debate, the Youth Assembly wrote to The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Prime Minister, to share the views expressed by Members and encourage the Government to meaningfully involve young people in future discussions on social media regulation and online safety. The letter highlighted the importance of creating policies with young people, rather than for them, and outlined Members’ beliefs that social media companies should take greater responsibility for keeping children and young people safe online.
We published a short ‘round-up’ video from the plenary event. If you missed it, you can catch it here: https://niyouthassembly.org/welcome-to-y-a-m-tv/
The full plenary and Official report can be viewed here: https://niyouthassembly.org/plenary-sessions/
Youth Assembly Members in the Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Saturday 19 September 2026.
Tree Protection Bill
Peter McReynolds MLA has introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Assembly entitled the Tree Protection Bill. The Bill seeks to strengthen the law and provide greater protection for Northern Ireland’s oldest and most significant trees and woodlands. It aims to place greater value on these important natural assets and ensure that decisions affecting them take proper account of their environmental, historical and community significance.
Youth Assembly Members met online with Peter and officials from the Committee for Infrastructure to learn more about the Bill, how a Private Member’s Bill progresses through the Assembly and the Committee’s role in scrutinising its proposals. Members explored why stronger tree protection is being proposed and considered how the Bill could affect local communities, landowners and the natural environment.
The session gave Members an opportunity to ask questions and begin identifying the issues they want to examine in more detail. They will now reflect on what they heard and develop their views, before presenting evidence to the Committee in November as part of its scrutiny of the Bill, helping to ensure that young people’s perspectives are included in the legislative process.
Curriculum 2028: Youth Assembly Members Share Their Views
On 3 October, Youth Assembly Members took part in a consultation event with the Department of Education on the proposed Curriculum 2028 reform. The session gave Members the opportunity to learn more about the proposed changes and provide feedback on how the curriculum can best meet the needs of children and young people in Northern Ireland.
Throughout the day, Members explored why the curriculum is being reviewed and discussed the key aims of Curriculum 2028. They considered what knowledge, skills and experiences young people need to thrive in a rapidly changing world and shared their views on the priorities that should shape future learning.
Members also took part in small-group discussions on the proposed new capabilities framework, considering which skills and attributes are most important for young people today, whether any were missing from the proposals and how schools can best support their development. These conversations provided valuable insight into what young people believe will help them prepare for future education, employment and life.
In the afternoon, Members examined proposals for a new Personal, Social, Citizenship and Careers (PSCC) framework and discussed the issues they feel are most relevant to young people. They also contributed to a subject-specific discussion on History and Modern Languages, sharing their views on the suggested changes and highlighting areas they felt should be prioritised.
The consultation provided an important opportunity for young people to influence the future of education in Northern Ireland. The views and experiences shared by Members will be used to help inform the Department of Education’s ongoing work to develop Curriculum 2028 and ensure that young people’s voices are central to the conversation about the future of learning.
Youth Assembly Members pictured in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Saturday 3 October 2026.
Meeting with Mental Health Champion
On 20 October, Members met online with Northern Ireland’s Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill, to discuss their wider mental health priorities and explore how children and young people view the upcoming changes to education under TransformED. Members highlighted the importance of specialist teacher training, practical life skills and consistent support for pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. They also raised concerns about assessment changes, teacher workload and differences in provision between schools, stressing that young people should have a greater say in shaping education policy. Professor O’Neill welcomed their feedback and encouraged Members to continue contributing to the consultation.
If you want to know more about the work of the Mental Health Champion, check out the website: https://www.mentalhealthchampion-ni.org.uk/
Youth Assembly Members attend online meeting with Mental Health Champion, Tuesday 20 October 2026.
Understanding Masculinities Research Report Launch
Members of the Youth Assembly’s Rights and Equality Committee attended the launch of Understanding Masculinities and Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland held in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings.
The event, hosted by The Executive Office’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Programme in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, showcased new research exploring attitudes towards violence against women and girls and examining how ideas about masculinity can influence behaviours and relationships.
Attending the launch gave Members the opportunity to hear directly from researchers and policymakers about the report’s findings and learn more about the work being undertaken to tackle violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. They also had the chance to reflect on the important role that education, awareness-raising and positive attitudes can play in creating a safer and more equal society for everyone.
The event provided valuable insight into an important issue that closely aligns with the Rights and Equality Committee’s work and highlighted the importance of including young people’s perspectives in conversations about gender equality, respect and healthy relationships.
Youth Assembly Members from the Rights & Equality Committee attend the report launch, Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Monday 12 October 2026.
Youth and Policing Partnership Forum
Led by officials from the Office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY,) the Youth and Policing Partnership Forum brings together young people from the Youth Assembly, and a range of youth organisations, with representatives from the PSNI, the Police Ombudsman and the Northern Ireland Policing Board to share experiences, discuss concerns and help improve relationships between young people and the policing services. Over half term, Youth Assembly Members met online with the group to prepare for their upcoming meeting with the PSNI in November.
Coming Up
9 November: Electoral Commission Show case event
10 November: Youth Assembly Committee meetings
18 November: Evidence to Committee for Infrastructure on Tree Protection Bill
28 November: Youth and Policing Partnership Forum meeting
Social Media
Facebook: Northern Ireland Youth Assembly
Instagram: @niyouthassembly
X: @NIYouthAssembly
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.
