A special event held this month focused on the County’s young people and their voices included the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.

Representatives from secondary schools and Pembrokeshire College gathered at County Hall at The Voice of Learners event, arranged by Cllr Pat Davies and the Children and Young People’s Rights Office.

Children’s Commissioner Rocio Cifuentes joined the panel on December 5 along with Director of Education Steven Richards-Downes and Principal Educational Psychologist Lorraine Silver.

Rocio’s job is to promote and protect children’s rights in Wales.

Rocio came to Wales as a refugee when she was a baby with her parents who were fleeing the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile in the 1970s.

She was Chief Executive of the charity Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales.

Pembrokeshire Council Chairman Cllr Steve Alderman chaired the event where attendees put some difficult and thought provoking questions to the panel.

The event focus was led by an extensive survey carried out with Pembrokeshire’s young people.

When asked what matters to them one of the highest concerns was to do with mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Questions ranged from access to sports, additional needs diagnosis and support during exams to the impact of healthy eating and tech habits.

Cllr Davies said: “I started this focus on young people and democracy as Council Chairman and it has not just been popular, but also extremely informative for our school goers and us as Councillors.

“We are determined to engage with young people and make sure their concerns and views are heard. Events with guest speakers such as this, and a previous event with the Electoral Commission, gives us that opportunity.

“Continuing this important work with the Children and Young People’s Rights Office is a real positive and we hope to welcome many more young people to County Hall at future events.”