Many of them will be giving their views on the BBC Wales news website, TV and radio ahead of the assembly elections on 3 May.

They responded to an appeal from BBC Wales asking people to make their opinions heard on everything from hospitals and schools to waste bins and global warming.

Here, you can meet members of the group from the south Wales east electoral region. Click on the links in the map above for more on the others in the rest of Wales.

Lisa Berry

AGE: 18

LIVES: Newport

WORKS: Student

ISSUES: People who do not vote should not moan about who is in power. The issues which she would like politicians to concentrate on are public transport - in particular the quality and cost of bus and train services.

Elaine Chappell

AGE: 63

LIVES: Garnlydan, Blaenau Gwent

WORKS: Retired machinist

ISSUES: Unemployment is getting worse, especially in Blaenau Gwent, where she would like to see a big employer coming into the area. She says she can see the push for smaller classes on one hand, but then small schools are being closed. Hygiene should be a top priority in hospitals and fears the problem is getting worse.

Phaedra Cole

AGE: 33

LIVES: Newport

WORKS: Lloyds TSB

ISSUES: A lack of support for families. She feels people who are married, white and middle-class have a raw deal. Phaedra believes money which the government spends on an aggressive foreign policy should be spent on health and education.

Roger Evans

AGE: 58

LIVES: Oakdale

WORKS: Civil servant and JP

ISSUES: The Welsh assembly has spent a lot of money without delivering, and he would like to see it abolished. He went to an assembly debate in Ebbw Vale and felt that the standard of debate was very poor.

Peter Ganesh

AGE: 48

LIVES: Merthyr Tydfil

WORKS: Practice manager

ISSUES: Health, with particular reference to NHS waiting lists, free prescriptions and the prospect of super hospitals. He is also concerned about school closures, pupil testing and other elements of education in Wales.

Beverley Holbrook

AGE: 41

LIVES: Abergavenny

WORKS: Unemployed

ISSUES: Very concerned about global warming; she wants to see more of a pro-active approach to this issue on the part of the Welsh Assembly Government. She is very much in favour of further devolution of political power to Wales.

Clive Jones

AGE: 50

LIVES: Monmouth

WORKS: Accountant

ISSUES: The difference in healthcare provision on the NHS between Wales and England. He is also very interested in environmental issues, particularly recycling, as he used to work in the waste industry.

Linda Joseph

AGE: 49

LIVES: Llantarnam

WORKS: Cardiff University project manager

ISSUES: She loves where she lives, but says there is a lot wrong in Wales that needs to be put right. It is hard to access information and services and there is a general lack of innovation and drive, as well as transparency and efficiency. She says politicians are going to have step up a gear and sell some good ideas.

Jason Lewis

AGE: 37

LIVES: Tredegar

WORKS: Businessman / sales manager

ISSUES: Worried about pensions and working families being abandoned by the government - unless new taxes need to be raised. He feels MPs' salaries are too high and they should be paid the average wage for the area they represent. Also concerned about spiralling cost of schemes like the Millennium Dome, and feels no-one is accountable when that happens. People on benefits should be made to work for the good of the community - and themselves.

Haf Leyshon

AGE: 18

LIVES: Merthyr Tydfil

WORKS: A-level student

ISSUES: Politics should appeal more to younger people. Without "dumbing down," politicians and the media should try to better communicate what is going on. Her main concern is the environment and creating incentives for people to recycle more. She would also like to see a better model of health care.

Cyril Luke

AGE: 62

LIVES: Merthyr Tydfil

WORKS: Adviser with Caerphilly First, working with people who have learning difficulties

ISSUES: There should be more education for people with learning disabilities. Instead of going to large day centres they should have the opportunity to learn life skills to give them a better and more independent quality of life.

Dave Taylor

AGE: 64

LIVES: Caerleon

WORKS: Consultant in electronics trade

ISSUES: He feels devolution is a waste of voters' money and would like to see MPs spending alternate weeks at Parliament and in Wales to avoid the need for both sets of representatives. He feels the Welsh NHS is suffering because it is devolved and waiting lists are too long. He is also concerned about council tax and the recent rebanding.