Sixteen-year-old Emily Williams has been elected to the Welsh Youth Parliament to represent children with life threatening conditions who use Wales’ two children’s hospices, and their brothers and sisters.

Emily 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. His three main issues facing young people are accessibility, better access to sport and improving education.

Tal said: “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.”