Engaging learners ahead of the May 2026 Senedd elections
With this year’s Senedd Elections coming up in May, we’ve worked with Democracy Classroom partners to gather everything you need to know in one place. Read on for a round up of key resources, events and programmes you can use to support young people in the run up to the Elections:
Host a Hustings Cymru
Host a Hustings Cymru supports teachers and youth practitioners to organise and deliver their own youth hustings events for the 2026 Senedd elections.
Youth Hustings provide a platform for young people aged 14–25 to engage directly with electoral candidates in Welsh elections. They give young people the chance to ask questions, voice their opinions, and take part in meaningful dialogue in the run-up to local and national votes. Events can be run in person or online.
Find out more about Host a Hustings Cymru, and register your interest in taking part
Digital Dialogues: Wales Programme
The Politics Projects Digital Dialogue programme supports learners across Wales to have meaningful conversations with their elected representatives.
It also helps teachers to prepare learners for those conversations through delivering engaging workshops with learning resources that empower learners to become ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world, directly supporting one of the four core purposes of the Curriculum for Wales.
Find out more about Digital Dialogue: Wales
E-learning: Exploring Elections
The Politics Project has launched two e-learning courses aimed at teachers and youth practitioners. These flexible, self-paced courses provide practical tools for delivering high-quality democratic education.
Access the Exploring Elections courses here
#ElectionCountdown 2026 - Senedd edition
The Politics Project has developed a comprehensive, eight-session programme designed to help schools, colleges, and youth groups support young people in engaging with and participating in the 2026 Senedd election. The programme will be particularly valuable for supporting first-time voters.
Access the Election Countdown programme here
Senedd Election 2026 Resources
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, the Senedd Commission, and the Electoral Commission have worked in partnership to create new resources that support young people to learn about the Senedd and how to vote. The resources are aimed at first-time voters but are suitable for all young people in year 10 and up.
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales brings us a scheme of work focused on children’s rights, the importance of voting, and how they link together.
Download the scheme of work on children’s rights and voting
The scheme of work from the Electoral Commission helps young people understand what the Senedd election is and what they are voting for, as well as how to register and vote in this election.
Download the scheme of work on how to register and vote
A final scheme of work from the Senedd Commission talks learners through the role and history of the Senedd, and how it is changing in 2026.
Download the scheme of work on the past and present of the Senedd
Let’s Talk Senedd: Educator Training Programme
The Senedd Commission is offering free online Teams sessions designed for educators who are beginners when it comes to learning about the Senedd. It aims to boost educator confidence when starting conversations with young people about politics, voting, and elections.
In this 45-minute session, educators will learn about the Senedd and democracy in Wales, and they will be provided with step-by-step guidance on delivering sessions to young people.
Sign up now for your chosen session:
Let’s Talk Senedd: explaining democracy in Wales (4 February, 16.00 – 16.45)
Let’s Talk Senedd: explaining democracy in Wales (5 March, 16.00 – 16.45)
Visiting the Senedd
Educators can arrange a free school educational session to the Senedd and receive a bespoke session from the Senedd’s Education Team. The sessions are designed for all ages, and give young people an insight on how the Senedd and democracy work in Wales. A travel subsidy is also available.
**Outreach and Education Visit **
The Senedd Education team also offers free educational visits to your school, college or youth group. Visits are tailored to your needs but with a clear emphasis on the work of the Senedd and the upcoming Senedd Elections.
Welcome to Your Vote Week (9 – 16 March 2026)
Welcome to Your Vote Week is a great opportunity for those who work with young people to start a conversation about democracy and voting. Every year the Electoral Commission invite schools, youth groups, and local elections teams to join them in celebrating democracy by running activities that help young people understand how it works and how to get involved.
The Electoral Commission offers a whole host of resources to support Welcome to Your Vote Week, including guidance on how to design a voter registration campaign, run a registration drive and combat mis and disinformation.
Download Welcome to Your Vote Week Resources
Download guidance on how to embed democratic education within the Curriculum for Wales
Access videos for young people about the Senedd and Senedd elections
Interactive workshops from Shout Out UK
Shout Out UK (SOUK) is running a two-year programme of interactive workshops across schools and colleges in Wales to inform and empower young people (aged 14-18) to participate actively in the country's democracy.
The programme aims to increase participants' likelihood of voting and their understanding of political processes. It will also equip students with skills to evaluate election-related information, identify mis/disinformation, combat online hate, promote candidate safety, and become responsible, active, and informed digital citizens.
Contact Shout Out UK to organise free sessions in your school