A student from Coleg Sir Gâr will be representing Carmarthenshire at this year’s UK Youth Parliament (UKYP).

Along with 300 other Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) Evie Somers, from Carmarthen, will be debating and voting on key issues which affect young people in the House of Commons, Westminster on February 28.

Sixteen-year-old Evie was elected as the Member of UK Youth Parliament (MYP) for Carmarthenshire, in August 2024 and will stand for a two-year term. MYP’s are 11 to 18 years old and represent the views of their peers.

Evie has been a member of Carmarthenshire Youth Council (CYC) for the last year. CYC was set up in September 2003 by young people for young people, with 19 aged 11 – 21 years old from across Carmarthenshire who act as a voice for young people by representing the views and opinions of all young people in the county.

The young people are supported by Council officers to ensure they access and use their right to have a voice and be listened to by adults and decision makers by developing projects or campaigns to highlight issues important to young people and to bring about positive change.

During the Annual Sitting, which will be presided over by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, the young people will be asked to debate and vote on five key topics, voted on by young people from across the UK:

Speaking ahead of the experience, Evie said: “Representing my peers, their experiences, and their voices is truly one of the greatest honours. Every time I interact with my constituents, I feel fortunate to be in this position.

“Since being elected, the past five months have been exciting yet overwhelming. A highlight was attending the Annual Conference in October 2024, where I met MYPs from across the UK and, in just two days, we wrote our entire manifesto. Experiences like this remind me of my responsibilities and my duty to the young people of Carmarthenshire.”

Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, Cllr Glynog Davies said: “I would like to wish Evie all the best ahead of representing the county this month in the UK Youth Parliament and also for being elected as the Member of UK Youth Parliament (MYP) for Carmarthenshire.”

You can watch the UKYP Annual Sitting live on BBC Parliament or the UK Parliament’s YouTube channel.

To find out more about Carmarthenshire Youth Council please go to www.youthsirgar.org.uk