Politicians Impact

Politician feedback

The programme was well received by the politicians that participated. 100% of politicians said they would recommend the programme to other politicians. Councillor Mike J Peers "suggests politicians would benefit from engaging with young people under the guidance of the Digital Dialogue: Wales programme".

Furthermore, 90.5% confirmed they wished to engage in future sessions.

"I have no hesitation in taking part in the programme in the future or in recommending participation to my colleagues and other local schools. I do hope the pupils learnt something from me, I certainly gained an invaluable insight into the issues that matter most to young people across the borough”.

Alun Davies MS, Labour

Learners at St Alban's Catholic Primary School meet with Cllr Owen Jones in person.

Learners at St Alban's Catholic School and Cllr Owen Jones

St Albans Catholic Primary. (2023).

Increased awareness of young peoples' perspectives

Politicians’ understanding of young people’s concerns and priorities improved, with 100% of politicians reporting a deeper understanding as a result of the programme. This enhanced understanding better equipped politicians to represent the needs of young people within their constituencies.

“Taking part in this programme has strengthened my connection with young people and schools in my constituency. It has provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from learners about the issues that matter most to them, helping to inform my work as a Member of the Senedd. The sessions have allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of their concerns and priorities, reinforcing the importance of involving young people in political conversations from an early age.”

James Evans MS, Conservatives

Building better relationships with young people

The programme was effective in helping politicians initiate and build relationships with their young constituents, who are often ‘least likely to contact [politicians] of their own accord’, says Ben Lake MP. The programme received a 'good' or 'very good' rating as a relationship-building tool from 100% of participating politicians, with 90% rating it ‘very good’.

95% of politicians reported that learners had gained a significant or considerable understanding of their role through participating in the programme.

Darren Millar MS answers question from learner at Ysgol Cynfran

Percentage of Politicians Who Felt That 'Young People On the Programme Understood Their Role?'

Percentage Indicating the Extent Politicians Believe 'The Programme is a Good Tool to Build Relationships with Young People'

“The learners received a lesson on the role of Parliament, and their engagement during my question and answer session clearly showed the knowledge they gained. I was especially pleased by the number of girls who actively participated and showed enthusiasm during the session.”

Jo Stevens MP, Labour

“I’ve really valued the sessions they’ve invited me to be a part of, because it’s allowed me to build connections with children and young people and to have an insight into how they see the world”.

Delyth Jewell MS, Plaid Cymru

Find a full list of testimonials from participating politicians

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Impact on teachers

Learn how Digital Dialogue: Wales strengthened teachers’ skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver democratic education — even for those without a background in politics.

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Embedding Democratic Education

Explore how schools across Wales are embedding Digital Dialogue: Wales into the curriculum — supporting long-term, whole-school approaches to democratic education.