Ceredigion’s Youth Council Members visit Westminster
On 7 July 2026, Gwilym Morus, a Ysgol Penweddig pupil who represents Ceredigion in the UK Youth Parliament as Ceredigion’s Member of Youth Parliament, Hannah Bowhay, Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron pupil and Ceredigion Youth Council Vice Chairperson and Freya Pritchard, a pupil at Ysgol Penglais and Chair of Ceredigion Youth Council, travelled to London to meet with Ceredigion Member of Parliament, Ben Lake.
The visit included a tour around Westminster from Ben Lake MP, a question and answer session, meeting staff and other MPs, and an opportunity to sit in the viewing gallery and listen to debates taking place 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.Freya Pritchard, Ceredigion Youth Council Chair 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. This experience has given us a valuable insight into the inner workings of UK Parliament. 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 said, “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. We are very grateful for his continued support towards the work of Ceredigion Youth Council and our youth members."
Ben Lake, Ceredigion MP said, "It was a real pleasure to welcome Freya, Hannah and Gwilym 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, Cabinet Member responsible for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills said: “Opportunities like this play an important role in helping young people develop their understanding of how democracy works and how they can influence decisions that affect their communities. It is encouraging to see members of Ceredigion Youth Council representing the county at Westminster and making the most of these valuable experiences. I would like to thank Ben Lake MP for his continued willingness to support and host visits such as this.”
31/07/2026