On a dark and miserable evening at the end of January, I made a last-minute decision to attend a social meeting of the Cardiff branch of Plaid Ifanc. I’ll admit, I was slightly nervous and I had no idea what to expect. Five months later, I’m finding it difficult remembering what exactly I did with my time before I joined Plaid Cymru!
The first branch meeting of Plaid Ifanc Cardiff
In hindsight, I couldn’t have chosen a better time to start being politically active. The past few months have flown by, primarily, I think, because the flurry of election activity caught us all in its momentum. As the big day drew ever nearer, I became increasingly aware of the significance and importance of Plaid Cymru’s message of hope and ambition.
Getting to know the individuals involved with Plaid Ifanc - and to the party at large - and understanding their desires confirmed what I already suspected; that I was now a member of a party that shared my values, namely the wish to see a fair, equal and just society.
The campaign gave me the confidence to speak directly with members of the public about politics and about Plaid’s policies, and to declare my opinions openly without being ashamed to do so. I was proud to promote the message of a party that has and will continue to put Wales first, and doesn’t have to answer to an authority beyond Offa’s Dyke.
With my fellow members and friends, Emyr a Branwen
And as a result of my discussions with individuals in Caerffili, in Cardiff and in the Rhondda, I had a better understanding of their needs and their ambitions for the future. This spurred me on to do my bit to ensure that Plaid Cymru would be the party to represent these people in the Senedd so that they have their voices heard.
Wales has suffered at the hands of several governments over the years, and I was determined to see Plaid Cymru’s ambition - that is, of bringing real change to Wales - being realised. And we all know what happened next in the Rhondda!
Me at the conference
That being said, I certainly wouldn’t have been anywhere near as active without the encouragement and enthusiasm of my fellow Plaid Ifanc members. Our annual conference in April was a tremendous success, and I was blown away by the maturity on display in terms of individual ability and discussion.
Thanks to each and every member for their hard work in organising the conference and for their endless dedication. I’m looking forward to playing my part in spreading Plaid Cymru’s message over the next few years - YMLAEN!
