A TENNIS champion and a North Wales Police volunteer cadet have their sights set on a seat in the Welsh Government’s new Youth Parliament.

Jonathon Dawes, of Rhyl, and Jacob Riddle, of Prestatyn, have both launched bids to become Welsh Youth Parliament members in the Vale of Clwyd constituency.

Voting taking place in November.  Jonathon, 15, is a pupil at Rhyl High School pupil is in year 11. 

The tennis leader and competition organiser at Rhyl Tennis Club has won various awards. 

​Jonathon said: “I have undertaken voluntary work for many charities. This includes working over 200 hours for Rhuddlan environmental group, 250 voluntary hours at my local tennis club, and raising £1600 for Comic Relief by completing a 12-hour tennis marathon, running various charity tournaments and helping Mike Peters raise more than £2000 for his charity.

“In July 2018, I was successful in applying for the position of a Sport Wales Platinum Ambassador for Denbighshire.  “Ever since getting the position I have been trying to grow sport as much as I can in Denbighshire, as I feel it is very important for young people to engage in sport and live an active lifestyle to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.” 

“One of the main reasons I am standing is to give the young people in the Vale of Clwyd a voice in modern politics. I am of the belief that young people should have a say.”

Jacob, 14, a pupil at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, Abergele, and a former pupil of Ysgol Melyd, Meliden, has been carrying out a survey of teenagers in the area to gauge the issues that concern them most.

He said: “From the outset, I felt it was only right to pull together the views of other young people and not to create a campaign around what I thought was important. 

“I have carried out surveys with school pupils across the area, taken advice from school teachers, and met with other professionals working with teenagers to get a rounded view.”

“This has thrown up some really interesting topics to help shape the three issues I need in order to hopefully stand for the Youth Parliament. Mental health, peer pressure and exam stress were the key topics to emerge time and again.

“I’ve always had an interest in politics and enjoy debating.”

Jacob and Jonathon's applications will be reviewed by the Welsh Youth Parliament team.

If they are successful, their names will join a list of candidates. Online voting opens on November 5. 

The deadline for applications closed on September 30. Other (possible) candidates will be revealed in due course. 

For more details visit www.youthparliament.wales