On Friday, 4th July, representatives from St David’s Youth Leadership Academy joined Citizens Cymru and young leaders from Cardiff at the Senedd. They campaigned for fairer bus fares for young people.
Students attended an inspiring event where they raised their voices for positive change through community organising. They sought £1 bus fares for under-16s and urged officials to extend the pilot scheme for 16–21-year-olds. This would make travel more affordable for young people and their families.
Our students represented the Youth Leadership Academy well during discussions with key Members of the Senedd. Vaughan Gething (Cardiff South and Penarth) and Julie Morgan (Cardiff North) listened to the issues facing young people and families.
Malek explained how her family pays adult fares for her younger brother, despite him being in full-time education. This makes college travel unaffordable for many families.
Ahmet said, “It was great to see how seriously the Members of the Senedd took our concerns.” He added, “They really listened and answered our questions respectfully. It felt like our voices mattered.”
Adriana reflected, “It was inspiring to be with so many young people and leaders working for positive change. It made me hopeful about what we can achieve through community organising.”
We are proud of our student representatives and the wider Youth Leadership Academy. This year, they actively engaged in community organising, prioritising solidarity and a preferential option for the poor. These principles guide their efforts. In addition to campaigning for fairer fares, students learned about powerful campaigns on housing, safety, and the living wage. This demonstrates how young people can have a positive impact on their communities.
As a positive outcome of the event, Mrs. Cummins and the student representatives received an invitation to meet Ken Skates, MS. He serves as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, and they will further discuss improving access to affordable public transport.
We look forward to welcoming new students to the Youth Leadership Academy in September and building on this momentum. We aim to gear up for the next Senedd election.
