January marked a strong start to the year for youth participation in Cardiff. During the month, there were 8 opportunities for children and young people to influence decision-making, with 41 young people contributing a combined 144 hours of volunteering.
Young people took part in a range of activities, including scrutiny meetings, a Cardiff Youth Council (CYC) Executive Meeting, and a CYC General Meeting, continuing their vital role in shaping and scrutinising decisions across the city.
A key highlight of the month was the creation of a Committee of Experts, bringing together 13 young people to review Cardiff’s progress as a UNICEF Child Friendly City. The group explored the city’s Child Friendly Sustainability Plan, reflecting honestly on what Cardiff is doing well and where further change is needed.
The Committee of Experts played a central role in co-producing Cardiff’s Youth Summary Report, which captures the lived experiences, priorities, and recommendations of children and young people across the city. The report provides a powerful assessment of progress on children’s rights and sets out clear priorities for the next phase of Cardiff’s Child Friendly journey .
January’s activity shows the depth of young people’s commitment to improving their city, and Cardiff’s continued commitment to listening, learning, and acting on what young people say.