seth set to make his mark

on the welsh youth parliament

Teenager Seth Burke recently made history by becoming Tˆy Hafan’s first ever Welsh Youth Parliament (WYP) member. He is also the first ever member with a life-long, progressive condition of the UK’s first parliament ran for, and by, young people in Wales aged between 11-18.

“My name is Seth Burke, I’m 13 years old, and I’m your Welsh Youth Parliament Member for the South Wales Central Region, based in Dinas Powys. I’m proud to be partnered with Tˆy Hafan Children’s Hospice, who have been helping me and my family for the last five or so years. “I think I’m the first in the Senedd [with a progressive, life-long condition] and I want to set an example to other children in Wales to follow their dreams. I think that sometimes because it’s been difficult for me, I want to make it easier for everyone. “I’m so proud to be a Welsh Youth Parliament Member – and even prouder to be the first Welsh Youth Parliament Member who is in a wheelchair and has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). I want to be a strong voice for other children like me, for other children who use wheelchairs and for children’s hospices, and those families and friends who go above and beyond to make sure that nothing is unachievable.”

Seth added: “After my three years in office, I hope to have helped to create a Wales that is more compassionate to children like myself, and to ensure that Wales’ children’s hospices get all the support they can so they can help even more young people, and I hope to gain the life experience and skills to go on to do whatever it is I want to do.”

Seth has set himself five priority areas that he plans to tackle while in his position on the WYP.

1. Protecting our environment and the natural world 2. Improved accessibility to public spaces for people with disabilities 3. Tackling online bullying 4. Addressing mental health in children and young people 5. Increase access to free clubs that promote physical activity in children and young people