Video shows Youth Assembly Members (YAMs) in the Assembly Chamber. 

A title card reads ‘The Northern Ireland Youth Assembly is looking for new members’ 

Youth Assembly Members describes the benefits of being part of the Youth Assembly. 

Youth Assembly Harry: I think there are a lot of benefits of being in the Youth Assembly. For example, it definitely helps people with their public speaking skills, and for me, I think it’s increased my knowledge of how government works.  

Youth Assembly Member Lucy: Well, there are many benefits, but for me personally, you’re able to forge new friendships with people from different backgrounds, and you can also feel quite impactful by discussing your views and passions with decision makers. 

While Harry and Lucy talk, there is a montage of short clips showing the Youth Assembly Members in Parliament Buildings and engaged in activities. 

The video shows YAMs in the Assembly Chamber with a title card that reads ‘Why do you think it’s important for young people’s views to be heard?’.  

Youth Assembly Member Mia talks to Nick Mathison MLA (Chairperson of the Committee for Education). 

Youth Assembly Mia: Why do you think it’s important for young people’s views to be heard? 

Nick Mathison MLA: I think it’s absolutely vital. I think if we’re going to make policy from a child rights perspective, and it has the interests of young people at its heart, we have to listen to those young people when we’re making policy decisions about them 

Gerry Caroll MLA: So I think it’s really important that children and young people are given a place to express their views, express their concerns, and also to tell ministers what they should be doing. I think the Youth Assembly has been a really important addition to the Assembly, and that recording was used in different committees, it’s addressed different committees, it’s addressed a few plenaries in Stormont on really, really important issues. 

Cheryl Brownless MLA: Most recently, we had an inquiry in relation to skills, and their voice was crucial into the formulation of our inquiry and our subsequent results. 

Daniel McCrossan MLA: And I think that this Youth Assembly has been an exceptional platform, hugely successful in giving young people that confidence to speak about the issues that directly affect them and there’s been a variety of areas around health and education, ‘Votes at 16’ has come up on countless occasions, and they have been strong advocates of that. 

The YAMs then describe the highlights of their experience. 

Harry: The highlight of my time in the Youth Assembly was definitely meeting the American Ambassador, Jane Hartley and, yes, it was great to meet somebody who’s so important.   

Lucy: One of my personal highlights was the mental health stakeholder event that I was able to confer with other youth organisations and decision makers on mental health support. 

Robbie Butler MLA describes the importance of the Youth Assembly. 

Robbie Butler MLA: It’s really important that they have advocacy, and that they are taken seriously as stakeholders. So through our Youth Assembly here, and their collaborative work with other assemblies and other local councils, young people’s groups and stuff, they can speak to and scrutinise what we do here.   

The video shows YAMs encouraging young people to apply. 

Paige: Well, I think some people might find it a bit daunting, knowing that this is a politically based. For me, I didn’t have any political knowledge. So I think people might think they need political knowledge, but I didn’t, and I’m still here.  

A montage of the Great Hall plays while Timothy Gaston MLA and Danny Baker MLA encourage young people to apply to the Youth Assembly.  

Timothy Gaston MLA: I’ve seen the excellent work they do here throughout Parliament buildings. They engage with committees, they meet politicians, they raise the voices that young people want heard in this day and age. So I’d encourage anybody that’s an interest in politics to step forward, join the Youth Assembly and sign up and make sure your voice is heard.   

Danny Baker MLA: Get involved. You know, we make decisions every single day that impacts your future, and it’s time that you hold us to account.   

The video shows the YAMs in the Assembly Chamber with a closing card that reads ‘Apply Now! Help Shape Your Future’ and directs visitors to www.niyouthassembly.org/recruitment website.