Emily elected to Youth Parliament to represent young people from Wales’ two children’s hospices

16-year-old Emily Williams knows only too well the challenges that face young people supported by Tŷ Gobaith in Conwy and Tŷ Hafan in Cardiff. Her younger brother Thomas was diagnosed with a brain condition shortly after birth and has been visiting Tŷ Gobaith for respite care since he was a baby. Emily herself has taken part in the hospice’s sibling support programme too.

“I’m overjoyed to be elected,” she said. “I struggled a lot during the Covid pandemic, partly due to growing up with Thomas and how different my childhood was to other people’s.

“My parents have always said that I’m firm in my beliefs so when I saw this opportunity I saw it as the perfect chance for me to share mine and many other people’s stories while also making a meaningful difference.”

The Welsh Youth Parliament was set up by the Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament in 2016 to give a voice to young people in Wales and a platform to raise issues that are important to them. There are 40 constituency seats, and a further 20 seats for partner organisations including one shared by Tŷ Gobaith and Tŷ Hafan.

Emily will serve for two years, during which time she will also be studying for her A Levels in Psychology, German, Maths and English Literature at Ysgol David Hughes on Anglesey. She also enjoys finding time to paint, read and play games, as well as taking part in her annual village pantomime and being a massive Eurovision fan!

Her three key issues facing young people in Wales that she plans to focus on during her time in office are mental health support, the quality of healthcare, and accessible transport.

Finishing runner up in the election as the hospices’ reserve member is 13 year old Tal Skone, a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg in Barry, and Chair of Tŷ Hafan’s Youth Board. Tal also has a brother who uses a wheelchair and accesses services at Tŷ Hafan. His three main issues facing young people are accessibility, better access to sport and improving education.

Tal said: “I’m really happy to have come second in the election. I want to help families who struggle with access in everyday life. My brother uses a wheelchair which helps me to understand some of the challenges faced by families who struggle with accessibility. As a family we often miss out on so many fun trips and activities. We have to plan in advance just to make sure my brother is safe, and that isn’t fair to him or to us.”

Andy Goldsmith, Chief Executive of Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices, congratulated Emily on her appointment.

“Emily is a passionate advocate for children with complex needs and the brothers and sisters who help support them and I am delighted that she will bring the voices of these young people to the highest level of policy making in Wales,” he added.

Meanwhile Emily is looking forward to the first meetings due to take place in the Senedd next year.

“When I applied it seemed like a shot in the dark, the fact I’ve actually been elected is amazing,” she said.

“I’m really glad that the users of Tŷ Gobaith and Tŷ Hafan believe I can bring about the difference they need.

“I’m looking forward to hearing about other people’s stories. Obviously, I could never fully understand what it means to be a disabled person growing up in Wales or even what it’s like to be a sibling living in a different area, but by talking to people about their first-hand experience, I can begin to gain an understanding.

“I’d most like to be able to advocate for better mental health support. This is a personal issue for me because of the struggles I’ve faced, however, I know it is also important for so many young people across Wales, especially those who use Tŷ Gobaith and Tŷ Hafan’s services.

“Being able to provide such an important support for so many people would be crucial for me to do and I hope I can succeed in making that happen.”