A YEAR on from the vote to leave the European Union, academics from Aberystwyth University got together to discuss the response of young people in Wales at a conference in London.

Dr Elin Royles and Dyfan Powel from the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society have been speaking to sixth-form students across Wales and gathering their views on how Brexit might affect them.

The findings, based on interviews gathered for a joint research project with the University of Edinburgh, ‘Education, language and identity’, were presented at the Young People and Brexit: One Year On conference hosted by the Wales Institute for Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) on Thursday, 22 June.

A short film of responses from young people recorded at this year’s Urdd Eisteddfod was also shown.

According to Dyfan Powel, research associate on the project, many young people are very unhappy they didn’t have a vote in the referendum.

He said: “The fact that many young people are angry that they didn’t have an opportunity to influence the outcome of the Brexit vote means that many of them have become more determined to become involved in the democratic process in the future.

“Perhaps we are already seeing this become reality with the increase in the number of young people who voted in the recent General Election.

“Although many disagree with Brexit, young people in Wales are pragmatic, and are keen to respond positively to the decision and to see a process that benefits everyone."

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