Jersey Youth Assembly launches
States Assembly
23 April 2025
The Jersey Youth Assembly (JYA) has launched and is open for applications. Providing a platform for young Islanders to voice their views and engage directly with States Members, the new JYA is open to anyone aged between 14 and 19 years old and will comprise of three main strands:
- Inquiry groups – open for people to join all year round, these groups will be created by JYA members to research and review topics chosen by them. Inquiry groups can quiz Ministers, work in tandem with Scrutiny Panels and investigate the issues that really matter to young people.
- An ‘executive’ group – elected on an annual basis by their peers, this group will lead and direct the workstreams of the JYA. This provides a fantastic opportunity for young people to develop their leadership skills.
- Learning and development opportunities - open to the entire membership of the JYA, these will allow members to access exclusive opportunities to develop their confidence, knowledge and communication skills.
Each year, there will also be two events arranged by the executive group, where the JYA will come together to debate in the Chamber in the style of the real States Assembly. JYA Members will be able to debate topics that they have chosen as well as ask States Members Questions Without Notice.
This new format allows members to be as involved in the activities of the JYA as they can or wish to be and means they can shape their JYA work around their studies or other commitments.
Deputy Carina Alves, Chair of the Political Awareness and Education Sub-Committee, said: ‘We know, from feedback we have received, that many young people are disengaged with local politics and often feel that their views go unheard.
‘Driving youth participation and engagement in politics is crucial for the future of the Island and we are confident that the newly relaunched JYA will bridge the gap between the States Assembly and our young people.
‘The JYA aims to provide a perfect opportunity for young Islanders to speak to their peers about the topics that matter most to them, research them and present their findings to States Members.
‘We want to see as many young Islanders as possible join and we would encourage parents to discuss the opportunities the JYA presents with their children.’
The JYA will be run by the States Greffe in parallel with the academic year, with sessions to be held every fortnight. It replaces the previous Youth Parliament programme and the former Youth Assembly.
Molly Gladwin, Education Manager at the States Greffe, said: ‘In establishing the JYA, we have engaged extensively with more than 300 young Islanders to create something that works for them. The programme is open to all 14- to 19-year-olds and, crucially, it is fully flexible so they can take as big or as small a role as they wish.
‘Giving young people a voice to allow them to contribute to the decisions that impact their lives is the overarching aim of the JYA, but it is about more than politics. It will offer members the chance to learn and develop key skills for their university applications and future careers, the opportunity to link up with other Youth Parliament initiatives outside of Jersey, as well as shadowing and mentoring programs with States Members and industry professionals.’
To join, all that needs to be done is to fill out the application form, which can be found here.
For any queries, please contact jya@gov.je.
