A CARDIGAN charity is helping to spearhead a drive to encourage more people to vote and get involved in the political process.

Local charity Area 43 has teamed up with the Electoral Reform Society Cymru (ERS Cymru) on a project to encourage a national conversation with people throughout Wales about voting, barriers to voting and non-voters’ views on politics.

‘Missing Voices’ will find out how people feel about politics in Wales and why so many people still don’t vote.

The project will use a variety of methods, such as an online surveys, online group chats, face-to-face focus groups, as well as getting out and talking to people on the street.

Area 43 is the project’s newest partner and will join the Welsh Government, the National Assembly for Wales, national charities such as Chwarae Teg, the National Autistic Society Cymru, Cymorth Cymru and many others, to speak to as many people as possible to make sure their voices are heard over the coming months.

The findings of the project will be reported in the autumn.

Jess Blair, ERS Cymru Director, said: “The recent General Election in June saw a three percent rise in turnout in Wales from 2015 and that includes a significant peak for young voters.

“Yet despite this increase there are thousands of people in our society who have no voice on any major decisions that are being made on their lives and we need to find out why.

“We are so pleased that Area 43 is on board and supporting us. We had a great visit and heard some really interesting views from the young people taking part. This highlighted how hard it could be to vote when you live in an isolated part of rural Wales with poor transport infrastructure."

Sally Jones, CEO of Area 43, said: “We were keen to become partners in ‘Missing Voices’ as we have always promoted the importance of the democratic process to the young people we work with.

“Despite what we hear in the media, young people are interested in politics and the decisions that affect their lives. However sometimes, the way these decisions are debated and arrived at do not seem relevant to their lives and better engagement is needed. We urge everybody to get involved, whether you vote or not, we want as many voices to be heard as possible.”

The online survey can be found in English www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/missingvoices and in Welsh www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/lleisiaucoll