The Jersey Youth Assembly (JYA) has now opened its application process to all young people between the ages of 14 to 19. This initiative aims to empower youth by providing them with a platform to express their opinions and engage directly with members of the States Assembly, addressing concerns that many feel their views go unheard.
The JYA was developed specifically in response to local youth’s comments and concerns. Each shared a sense of alienation from local politics, and the JYA seeks to remedy that. Deputy Carina Alves, chairwoman of the Political Awareness and Education Sub-Committee, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We know, from feedback we have received, that many young people are disengaged with local politics and often feel that their views go unheard.”
The JYA is intentionally built to be flexible, enabling participants to opt in and out according to their interests and availability. Young islanders can express themselves online to the extent they choose. It is precisely what has opened the door to local governance for everyone willing to step through it. Our assembly includes question circles which are always open and ready to welcome newcomers throughout the year. These cohorts encourage ongoing engagement and spirited discussion with like-minded peers.
Molly Gladwin, the education manager at the States Greffe, highlighted that the development of the JYA resulted from extensive consultations with over 300 young islanders. This cooperative process is important to make sure the assembly truly represents their needs and interests. “In establishing the JYA, we have engaged extensively with more than 300 young islanders to create something that works for them,” she stated.
The JYA’s governance design features an executive body to be elected each year from within the members. This democratic element is what empowers young people to be leaders, themselves. Beyond that, it builds an empowering sense of ownership over the idea that they can—or should—be involved in local politics. The strategy of the assembly is to develop a safe and open environment for youth to express their needs and recommendations straight to decision-makers.
With applications now open, Deputy Alves said it was her hope that a significant number of young islanders would take advantage of this opportunity. She stated that the JYA wants “as many young islanders as possible to join,” emphasizing the importance of youth engagement in shaping future policies.
