The Education Minister, Kirsty Williams AM, has launched a consultation on the revised Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Guidance for schools in Wales.

Based on recommendations from a report made last year by an expert review panel, the new proposals update the current guidance on RSE.

The update changes the name from the “Sex and Relationship Education” to “Relationship and Sexuality Education”.

RSE includes learning on:

• different types of relationships, such as familial, non-sexual and sexual relationships,
• the changing functions of the human body and how it influences behaviour and relationships,
• social and cultural influences on representations of the body, relationships, physical, mental and emotional health and well-being.

The new proposals include a whole school approach to RSE. A whole school approach is the “effective linking of all elements of an education setting’s provision, policy, staff and community” to provide holistic high quality support for learners.

The announcement was made at a visit to a pioneer school in Swansea which is part of the group developing the Health and Well-Being Area of Learning Experience.

The Education Minister noted that high-quality RSE was at the heart of the Welsh Government strategies Prosperity for All and Education in Wales: Our National Mission.

The consultation ends on 01 April 2019.

You can read more from the Education Minister here, and respond to the consultation here.

Young care leavers will no longer need to pay council tax, in a plan announced by Finance Minister, Rebecca Evans AM.

The National Assembly for Wales Commission has introduced a Bill to the National Assembly for Wales, which will let 16 and 17 year olds vote in Assembly elections.

It will also make any other necessary changes required to allow 16 and 17 year olds to register for the elections and provisions to protect young people’s data.

The Bill, called the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Bill, will make a number of changes to the National Assembly and voting. The Bill proposes changing the name of the National Assembly for Wales to ‘the Senedd’, or where appropriate, ‘Welsh Parliament’.

The Bill also sets out changes to who can and cannot stand for election to the Senedd.

For more information, please visit the National Assembly for Wales website here.

It’s almost 25 years since the first Youth Work Excellence Awards were launched in Wales. Join us in marking the occasion, and celebrate the best of Welsh youth work, by nominating a person or project for the 2019 awards!

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Members of UK Youth Parliament have been recognised for outstanding contributions to the House of Commons debates which took place on 09 November 2018.

The UK Youth Parliament sits in the House of Commons once a year to debate the issues chosen during the Make Your Mark campaign. Young people from the four nations of the UK debate the issues chosen in the same way as currently sitting MPs; through speeches at the ballot box, and from the backbench by members.

In 2014, the Paul Boskett Award for outstanding speeches was established in memory of Paul Boskett MBE, to recognise excellent debate contributions.

The Member of Youth Parliament for Derbyshire, Alex McDermott won the award for his opening speech at the ballot box on votes at 16. Cormac Savage, Member of Youth Parliament for South Down in Northern Ireland was recognised for his backbench contribution on tackling homelessness.

Samuel Taylor, Member of Youth Parliament for Blaenau Gwent and chair of the Young Wales Young Person’s Project Board, won the award for his speech on lowering the voting age to 16.

Samuel made note of the lowered voting age in Scotland and plans to lower it in other devolved nations, including Wales, and called on his colleagues in the House to unite behind the campaign across the UK.

You can read more about the award on the UK Youth Parliament website, as well as watch the winning contributions in full.

The participation and advocacy charity for looked after children, Coram Voice, is running a creative writing competition for looked after children and care leavers.

Hockey Wales have partnered with Access Sport to provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities aged +7 to play hockey.