Ceredigion County Council website

The visit included a tour around Westminster from Ben Lake, a question and answer session, meeting staff and other MPs, and an opportunity to sit in the viewing gallery and listen to debates that were happening in the chamber. The opportunity allowed for young people to learn about the history of the Palace of Westminster, the work of UK Parliament, how the various working spaces visited are used and ways that young people can get involved and engage with the democratic process. 
 
Aeron Dafydd, Ceredigion’s UK MYP said: “Visiting Westminster was an inspiring and eye-opening experience. Seeing the Members of Parliament in action and witnessing a live debate gave me a deeper understanding of the political process. It has strengthened my passion for making a meaningful impact in public life."
 
Rosa Waby, Ceredigion Youth Council Chair said: “This experience has given us a valuable insight into the inner workings of UK Parliament, as well as space to discuss the important concerns of young people. Opportunities like this enable us to further strengthen the relationship between our local Youth Council and the UK Government, allowing us to empower young people’s voices.”

Gwion Bowen, Ceredigion’s Senior Children and Young People’s Participation Officer added: “We are extremely grateful to Ben Lake and his office for allowing us such a great opportunity once again this year. We enjoyed travelling to London and spent the afternoon with Ben, exploring ‘behind the scenes’ of the Westminster Parliamentary estate, and learning more about the role of MPs and their work. The young people were inspired by the opportunity and we thoroughly enjoyed the experienced.”

Ben Lake, Ceredigion MP said: "It was a real pleasure to welcome Aeron and Rosa to Westminster earlier this month. It was encouraging to see young people engaging with politics because ultimately, they are the future of our democracy, and their enthusiasm is vital for shaping a better society. I hope the visit was both informative and enjoyable for them, offering a deeper understanding of how our political system works. I look forward to hearing more from them in the future and wish them all the best in their endeavours."

Councillor Wyn Thomas is Ceredigion’s Cabinet Member responsible for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills. He said: “It is vitally important that young people are given the opportunity to engage and take part in the political process, and this is one of many ways that we can support that engagement, and we are grateful to our local MP Ben Lake for his ongoing support and enabling young people to have these opportunities.”