Following a proposal from the Mayor, the Town Council in Tenby is seeking to establish a forum for Children and Young People in the town.

Explaining her ideas to a recent Council meeting, Clr. Mrs. Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said: “Young people are the future and they should have more chance to speak about the things that are important to them. More importantly, we should be listening to them.”

Proposing establishing a forum of young people up to aged 18, the Mayor explained that members could be self-nominating and drawn from schools, youth groups, uniformed organisations, sports clubs as well as individuals who are interested in joining.

The forum would allow young people to say what is important to them and to organise things that they want to do with support from the Town Council.

Councillors Tracey Evans, Dai Morgan and Harry Whitehurst have offered to work with Clr. Mrs. Skyrme-Blackhall to plan a first event with young people.

It is hoped that this first event will help decide the aims for the group, how often they want to meet and the other organisations and people they would like to come and talk to them about issues that interest them.

This project will be informed by the recently produced Youth Engagement Toolkit for Town Councils produced by PLANED.

Councillors will also be talking to organisations that work with young people.

Clr. Mrs. Skyrme-Blackhall continued: “Too often Children and Young People are dismissed and ignored. Hopefully that is an attitude of the past.

“I am encouraged that Tenby Town Council is looking to the future and seeking new ways to involve people in the future of our Town.”

The Mayor is inviting anyone who is interested or who has ideas for the forum to get in touch.