Youth Forum, Youth Cabinet & Youth Mayor

The Young People’s Participation service ensures that young people are provided with the opportunity to influence and shape the services that affect them in line with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Merthyr Tydfil Borough Wide Youth Forum (MTBWYF)

The Merthyr Tydfil Borough Wide Youth Forum (MTBWYF) meets four times a year and is open to all young people in the Borough between 11- 25 years of age.  Being a member of MTBWYF can have a positive impact on the lives of young people by providing opportunities to:

• Challenging the decision-making process around services that affect young people.
• Developing projects around issues that affect young people.
• Providing a greater understanding of the democratic system.
• Increasing young people’s knowledge and self-esteem.
• Assisting young people to recognise and aspire to their goals and aspirations.
• Gain confidence in public speaking.

Youth Cabinet

Members of MTBWYF who are interested in getting more involved in issues that affect young people can join the Youth Cabinet. Members attend MTBWYF forum sessions and an extra six cabinet meeting each year to engage in projects and consultations, supporting the causes that matter most to Merthyr Tydfil’s young people. The Youth Cabinet also engage with national organisations such as Children in Wales and Public Health Wales as well as representing young people on relevant local council Scrutiny panels.

Youth Mayor

The Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor are members of the Youth Cabinet. Every year an election for the Deputy Youth Mayor takes place with the previous Deputy Youth Mayor being officially inaugurated to the full office of Youth Mayor. Any young person aged 11 to 23 living in Merthyr Tydfil can nominate themselves as a candidate for the Deputy Youth Mayor role.

The responsibility of Youth Mayor, in addition to their youth cabinet role, is to be the first Youth Citizen for the County Borough and give a voice to the young people of Merthyr Tydfil; they work with others to deliver training on Children’s rights and attend a variety of meetings to ensure that young people’s voices are heard and taken seriously.

The Youth Mayor also attends and takes part in a range of Civic duties, such as attending public events with the Mayor.

For further information about the programme or how to get involved, please contact Emma Bagnall at Safer Merthyr Tydfil, Tel: 01685 353999 or Email eb@smt.org.uk

Working in Partnership with Merthyr Tydfil CBC Youth Services