Young people can choose issues at UK Youth Parliament

Local young people have until 10 October to make their mark and help choose the issues that will be debated by the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) at a special gathering in the House of Commons in November.

UKYP is a national organisation that gives 11-18 year olds a chance to make their voices heard directly to central and local government and Ealing has two representatives. Their Make Your Mark campaign gives young people the opportunity to have their say on which issue UKYP representatives should focus on in the next year. 

Young people can vote online for their favourite out of a list of ten hot topics. The five that receive the most public votes will be debated by UKYP representatives in the main chamber at the House of Commons on Friday, 15 November. At the end of the debate representatives will vote on which two of the five issues they will focus their campaigning on in the coming year.

The debate will be chaired by the the Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons. It will also be recorded in Hansard (the official record of the Houses of Parliament) and be televised live on BBC Parliament.

The ten topics on the ballot are:

- Votes for 16 year olds
- Fund youth services, don’t cut them
- More life skills on the curriculum
- Improved mental health services
- Better work experience
- Bring back exam re-sits in maths and English
- More consultation with young people on government policies
- Living wage for everyone, regardless of age
- Give young people a voice in improving their communities
- The right to end your life/ euthanasia.

Councillor Binda Rai, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “I know first-hand how passionate young people can be about the things that matter to them and the UK Youth Parliament has put together a list of important issues that I am sure will spark discussion and debate.

“In Ealing, we firmly believe in the value of listening to the views of young people and they play a central role helping to shape youth services in the borough. I hope that young people will take the time to get involved and have their say in this important debate."

Pervin Kaur, Member of Youth Parliament for Ealing, said: “The UK Youth Parliament is an amazing platform for young people. Last year, nearly half a million secondary school students across the country took part in Make your Mark and 6,000 voted in Ealing alone. We want even more to take part this year and to show that we do have a voice in matters that affect us.”

Young people can vote by going to www.mi-voice.com/mym and clicking on ‘vote now’.

For more information on the UK Youth Parliament in Ealing and to get involved with local democracy, go to www.youngealing.co.uk/ealingyouthcouncil

20th August 2014