They’ve only gone and done it again.
After 10 years of annually debating at the House of Common Chambers, our future, our voice, our people, our youth debated some of the biggest issues currently affecting both you and me, on Friday 9th November 2018. This excellent opportunity not only brought light to some of the biggest issues we face but also marked the diverse range of youth in and around London.
The aim of the UKYP is to ensure that young people’s views are not only heard but acted upon, empower young people to take positive action within their borough, town or city and consists of representatives aged between 11 and 18 years old.
The annual debate is chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons Rt Hon John Bercow MP. But I bet you’re wondering how are the topics that are debated chosen?
Each year there is a ‘Make Your Mark’ election, in which those aged 11-18 can vote for the topic that matters to them most, and a record breaking 1.1 million youth voted this year. Ending knife crime, mental health, ‘equal pay, for equal work’, tackling homelessness and ‘votes at 16’ were all the most voted topics which therefore meant that they were debated. A member of the Hillingdon Youth Council gave me an insight of the day and described it as “An amazing opportunity to speak out about what matters most.” And went on to say, “I’d definitely do it again!” To conclude the day, they marked the Representation of the People Act 1918.
Until next time UKYP…
