It was fantastic to visit the 5th Port Talbot Scout Group at St Theodore’s.
I was delighted to spend the evening with the Scouts, hearing about the impressive work they’re doing towards their Community Impact Badge. They have chosen to focus on mental health for young people aged 10½ to 16, and I was incredibly impressed by the depth of their research, the thoughtful questions they asked, and their determination to make a positive difference in our community.
We had a really engaging discussion about the challenges young people face in accessing mental health support, including waiting times, early intervention, and the support available for both neurodiverse and neurotypical children and young people. It was clear how much time and effort they had put into understanding these issues and thinking about practical ways services could be improved.
Young people’s voices deserve to be heard, especially on issues that affect them directly. I’d like to thank Rebecca and all the leaders for the invitation, and congratulate every Scout for their enthusiasm, compassion and commitment to creating positive change.