North Somerset Youth Parliament Shares Updates at Fourth Full Meeting (By Ivy, 15)
By Ivy, 15, Good News Room at Worle Community School Academy
On 25 March 2026, the fourth full North Somerset Youth Parliament meeting was hosted in Weston-super-Mare’s New Town Hall Chambers.
This is where North Somerset Council meetings are held, providing a rewarding opportunity for young people to share their ideas with the community.
The evening began with an informative presentation by North Somerset Council employees, who introduced the Youth Parliament to WECA (the West of England Combined Authority), which North Somerset Council may be joining as early as next year.
WECA is a formal partnership of councils in the West of England that could bring many benefits to local residents, including increased job opportunities, improved housing, and better public transport.
Joining could also provide access to a £30 million investment fund and a £720 million transport fund, which the council currently does not have.
With a large majority, the Youth Parliament agreed that North Somerset should join WECA, while some representatives requested further information about potential downsides.
The council then discussed priorities for support from WECA.
The majority voted for affordable and reliable public transport and help with environmental issues. Mike Bell, head of North Somerset Council, said WECA is “important for our future to receive funding to support our community.”
The consultation is open to the public, giving everyone a chance to have their say. It closes on 10 April, when it will be reviewed and reported on.
The evening continued with updates from three subgroups chosen by the Youth Parliament in October 2025 due to their ongoing impact on young people: Safer Communities led by Ella, Mental Health led by Ren, and Anti-Hate Crime led by Fatima and Eve. The subgroup leaders shared their progress and plans for the future.
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The Safer Communities subgroup aims to make North Somerset safer and encourage more people to enjoy public spaces without fear of crime or antisocial behaviour.
The Mental Health subgroup highlighted the importance of supporting young people, recommending increased awareness of mental health websites and teacher training, while avoiding extra stress for students.
The Anti-Hate Crime subgroup focused on raising awareness about hate crimes — criminal offences motivated by prejudice against characteristics such as gender, sexuality, religion, or gender reassignment. They suggested assemblies in schools and public campaigns to inform young people.
The Youth Parliament leader, Oliver, concluded the meeting with Any Other Business.
He shared news of a £20 million government investment, Pride in Place, to be delivered over ten years to improve the Bournville area.
A youth-led committee, including Bhama and Paige, will work alongside adults to decide how the funds are spent.
Finally, the Youth Parliament announced that they would sponsor one of the Superhero Awards at the Reset Youth Awards, hosted by Reset WSM at the Grand Pier.
The meeting was informative and provided young people with the chance to showcase their achievements. The next full Youth Parliament meeting will be held on 20 May 2026.
