Special events at Samaritans Centre
TEENAGERS aged 16 and 17 will be able to vote in Senedd elections from the next one due in May 2021.
The Senedd and Elections Bill won the support of the National Assembly last week by 41 to 19.
The Bill also changes the official name of the Assembly to Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament.
The third part of the Bill would also make important changes to electoral arrangements and how the Electoral Commission carries out its work in Wales.
Royal Assent is to be given in January 2020. The Welsh Government recently announced plans for 16 and 17-year-olds to get the right to vote in council elections.
Introducing the Bill, Llwydd Elin Jones said “the bill has many facets”.
“This is a constitutional bill and the powers to do this were only devolved to 2017,” she said.
“This is one of a few occasions where a super majority [of 40] is needed.”
She said the provision to extend votes for those 16 and over was “long overdue for some”.
She said the change to a bilingual name did not have the backing of Plaid Cymru, or herself.
She said there would be legislation to “further reform” the Senedd but she urged AMs to “take the step”.
TWO important events recently took place at the Samaritans Centre in Parc Menai, Bangor. The Branch at Bangor provides listening emotional support for the counties of Gwynedd, Ynys Môn and Conwy.
Recently the Branch has acquired a specially constructed Community Vehicle to enhance the awareness of the service provided. The vehicle has already visited the four Life stock Markets in the area and was present for the week at the recent Destressful Week at Bangor. Further visits are planned for towns and villages throughout the area over the coming weeks and months.
At the same meeting, Bethan Wyn Jones unveiled a special slate plaque, in memory of her late husband, Elwyn Jones of Talwrn, Anglesey, who died in July.
He was a very special man in the Community and inspirational volunteer at the Centre for 34 years, including setting up the Welsh Language Helpline nine years ago. The Branch decided to name the Branch ‘Canolfan Elwyn’ in his memory.
Inscribed on the plaque is a traditional ‘englyn’ written by the national chaired and crown Bard, Dylan Iorwerth.
Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day on Freephone 116 123 or in Welsh on Freephone 0808 1640123 every evening between 7pm-11pm, and there is also a texting, e-mail and letter writing service. Callers are also welcome to visit the Centre between 11am – 9pm every day.
The North West Wales Branch are always looking to recruit new volunteers and there will be a new training course starting in the New Year – for further details telephone 01248 674984 (this is an office number only not the helpline).