Youth Assembly takes action for young people

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 30 October 2022

Reference: SO 04/22/23

Members across the four Youth Assembly committees held a special research event with a range of stakeholders today in Parliament Buildings. The purpose of the event was to examine and discuss specific issues related to their chosen topics of Youth Mental Health; School Curriculum; Climate Change; and the Awareness of Children’s Rights.

The four Youth Assembly committees - Health, Education, Environment, and Rights and Equality – will use the discussions from today’s event to develop a range of recommendations which will be presented to Departmental Ministers.

Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alex Maskey, was pleased to have another opportunity to meet with the Youth Assembly members and listen to their committees’ plans:

“The Assembly Commission and I are extremely proud of the Youth Assembly and the enthusiasm with which the members have embraced their role. We are delighted to see the work of each of the committees progress as they focus on specific areas of concern. Today’s important engagement with researchers and officials is an opportunity for members to examine evidence-based information and gain insight from experts on the key issues within their chosen work areas. It will also provide a basis for them on which to take action by developing recommendations and communicating them to government departments.

Speaker Maskey concluded: “Voicing the concerns of young people and proposing actions is central to the work of the Youth Assembly. I look forward to following their progress and seeing how their ideas and views are heard across the political spectrum here.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The Youth Assembly held its first plenary sitting (virtually) on Friday 2 July 2021. The second plenary sitting was held in person in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings on Saturday 6 November 2021. The third plenary sitting was held in the Assembly Chamber on Saturday 5 March 2022. It is anticipated that the next plenary sitting will take place in November 2022.