Welcome to the Book Council of Wales’ Young People’s Panel web page. The panel was established to ensure an opportunity for a variety of young adult voices to share their opinions and ideas about reading for pleasure in Wales. The panel will meet three times a year.

The main aim of the meetings is to identify themes which the panel members wish to see within future publications, to express opinions on current publications and share their wishes for future publications. It is an extremely valuable opportunity to discuss reading for pleasure promotion campaigns to encourage others to read. 

Meet the panelists…

Mared Fflur is originally from Dolgellau, but has since settled in Caernarfon.

Day to day she works as a Welsh teacher and is passionate about encouraging young people to enjoy reading. Mared won the 2020 T Eisteddfod Prose Award and the Crown in the Wales Young Farmers’ Eisteddfod in 2022, as well as the Chair in 2024.

If I had to describe myself in one adjective, it would be ‘passionate’. This can be clear in my strong opinions or even my persistence when creating elaborate stories and complex characters; but above all, my passion comes through when discussing literature and reading (especially through the medium of Welsh). In the same spirit, I really want to use my time on this panel not only to remind everyone of the history of our stories, but also to embrace more modern Welsh literature, as these are what help keep the Welsh language alive.

My name is Bethan, and I am a second-year student at the University of York, studying English and Related Literature. I am from Denbigh and studied Welsh literature, English literature and History A-Level at Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd. I have worked with children with additional learning needs for a number of years, and I love to share my passion for reading with them. My aim as a panel member is to help make reading more accessible to those with ALN. This might involve changing the font or colour of the text or ensuring access to interesting books written at an accessible level with simplified vocabulary. I am also passionate about promoting Welsh-language books. My favourite Welsh author is Manon Steffan Ros. 

My name is Edward Cawley and I am a 18-year-old from Llanrwst. My hopes for this panel is to promote reading for this and the next generation of readers in Wales for I believe reading is of the utmost importance in ensuring a healthy childhood development by thereby providing all the intellectual necessities a child needs, from good emotional awareness to general intellect.

Hello, I’m Elin. I come from the Aberystwyth area and I’m studying Biology, Chemistry, and English Literature (AS Level) at Ysgol Penweddig. I really enjoy being outdoors, walking the dog, or going for a jog. Music is important to me – I enjoy playing the piano and the guitar. I have enjoyed reading since I was very young, in both Welsh and English, with historical fiction and fantasy novels among my favourite genres. I particularly enjoy the work of Caryl Lewis and Manon Steffan Ros in Welsh, and Philip Pullman and Matt Haig in English.

Because I read widely in two languages, I have a sense of the literature that is available, an awareness of the gaps in Welsh literature, and ideas about what I would like to see on the shelves – for example, novels that deal with contemporary issues such as the climate crisis, mental health, and matters relating to the LGBTQ+ community. I’m really looking forward to working with the other panel members! 

My name is Gwenno and I am studying for a degree in Welsh at Cardiff University.

As a member of the panel, I hope to ensure that there is plenty of fresh, exciting, and relevant material available for young people to read through the medium of Welsh.

I study Geography at Aberystwyth University, and I am originally from the Tawe Valley. I enjoy playing the piano, walking, and being outdoors. 

In terms of my vision, I would like to see a wider range of books and reading materials for young people that deal with subjects and themes of interest to everyone. 

Hello! My name is Josh and I’m a Year 13 student at Ysgol Plasmawr. I enjoy playing football, but I’m also passionate about anti-racism and environmental work in my community, and I’ve written a few blogs and articles on various topics. I love learning beyond the classroom and have realised that books can offer so much more. I particularly enjoy short stories full of lively descriptions, which give me a feeling similar to listening to music, something else I really love!

My name is Lleucu Hughes, I am 17 years old and live in Llanuwchllyn. I am a Year 13 pupil at Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn, studying Welsh, English Literature, Religious Studies, and Music. My aim as a member of the panel is to contribute ideas to promote literature among young people, and to try to influence the provision of a variety of both factual and fictional literature that is suitable for our generation. As a young person who enjoys reading, I am very eager to encourage an interest in books among people my age. Beyond reading, some of my interests include music, mainly singing and creative writing.

I am 17 years old from the Llŷn Peninsula, and I am currently studying A-Level Welsh, Psychology and Sociology at college. I have had a strong interest in languages and in Welsh from a young age, and so books have been very important to me for many years. As I understand the importance of reading, I believe the panel gives me an opportunity to voice my opinion on how to encourage this amongst other young people. I also hope the panel will allow me to share my views on what is missing in Welsh literature for young people, and how books can be made more suitable for this age group so that everyone can relate to them.

Hey, I’m Nikki! Literature built my view of the world, so I want to help young people connect with books that resonate with them. Growing up with a profound passion for novels, I experienced firsthand the advantages of being a young reader in my education, vocabulary and confidence. It’s so important to me that inspired children have enough opportunities to take their love of fiction further and are sufficiently represented within reading communities.