1.3 Aims of Digital Dialogue: Wales

When founding The Politics Project, our Director Hattie hoped to reimagine the "politician school visit" and increase the amount of engagements that are youth-led, informed and dynamic. By keeping this at the heart of what we do, we have managed to transform the way young people and politicians engage with each other across the country.

Since 2020 we have delivered a Digital Dialogue: Wales, a Welsh specific version of the Digital Dialogue programme, helping teachers and youth practitioners to support their young people to engage in the Welsh democratic system.

Why is important that young people engage with politicians?

Currently, only 7% of young people engage with a politician during their time at school. Meanwhile, very few young people participate in more "traditional" forms of politics. In the 2024 General Election, 37% of 18-25 year olds voted, compared with 73% of 65+ year olds. In the 2021 Senedd Election, just 47% of the electorate voted. 

Without young people engaging with decision makers, their voices are being left out of the conversation and they are much less likely to continue engaging with these individuals and the structures they represent in later life.

By bringing young people and politicians together to have meaningful conversations, we hope to tackle this problem. Young people gain the opportunity to share perspectives and advocate for the many local and national issues they care about. 

“I’ve found taking part in Digital Dialogue: Wales informative and enjoyable, and I welcomed the breadth of different issues that the young people wanted to ask me about during the course of our session.  Programmes like this really help to demystify the world of politics.” Delyth Jewell, Member of Senedd

Later on, we will give you the opportunity to consider for yourself the key outcomes you hope to see in your learners upon their completion of the programme.