At the Urdd Eisteddfod in Bala yesterday (30 May) members of the movement’s youth board met with Jeff Cuthbert AM, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, to discuss the Wales they Want in years to come.
This is part of a ‘National Conversation’, launched earlier in the year by the Commissioner for Sustainable Futures, Peter Davies, and supported by award winning actor and UNICEF supporter Michael Sheen, to garner opinion about the type of Wales people would like to see by 2050.
The responses to the National Conversation will inform the proposed Future Generations (Wales) Bill that is due to become law next year, on the long term goals that we all should be pursuing.
The meeting with the Board took place on the Urdd Eisteddfod site in Bala and the Minister welcomed the chance to discuss a whole host of issues. He said: “This Conversation is about the kind of Wales we want to see in years to come, not about next week or next month. The views of young people are crucial to the debate, as it is they, their children and their grandchildren who will benefit if we get this right.
“Membership of the Urdd is spread widely across Wales and their members’ views can provide a detailed snapshot of the issues impacting on today’s young people and how those can be improved in future.”
The Urdd Youth Board, Bwrdd Syr IfanC, is made up of young people, aged between 15-25, from across Wales. They meet regularly throughout the year to discuss issues and advise the Urdd’s management on future activities and initiatives.
The forum’s chair, Jacob Elis, believes the group’s views can make a significant contribution when considering the future of Wales. He said:
“Bwrdd Syr IfanC was originally conceived and set up to offer a voice for Urdd members and to identify opportunities where their skills could be further utilised and developed in future. We have had the opportunity in the past to discuss our ideas with the First Minister and we certainly appreciate this chance to contribute our views and thoughts on how we would like to see Wales develop in years to come. As I expected there was certainly no shortage of suggestions!”
The ‘National Conversation’ aims to build a consensus around the goals which are most important to those living in Wales, and how they envisage a future Wales for their grandchildren and beyond. The National Conversation is a key proposal for the proposed Future Generations (Wales) Bill which will help tackle the generational challenges Wales faces in a more joined up and integrated way – ensuring Welsh public services make key decisions with the long term well being of Wales in mind.
