16 October 2008

LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY IN HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE

Young people involved in Global Youth Action, a national project funded by v and the Big Lottery Fund, and run by education charity DEA, travelled to London on Tuesday 15 October where they took part in a specially organised young people’s debate in the House of Commons.

The 13 young men and women, aged between 14 and 19 are from Preston, Leeds and Cambridgeshire. They were all visiting Parliament for the first time and the debate was held in a House of Commons Committee Room overlooking the River Thames. The young people contributed to debates on topics including ‘Gang, gun and knife crime’ and ‘If I were a Government Minister’.

As part of this, they thought about the work of a number of government departments and argued for more investment into regeneration projects and to tackle inequality, support for creative activities outside of school, and more opportunities for young people to understand the wider world and take action in their community.

Mark, aged 16, from Leeds, one of the young people who took part in the debate, said, “I enjoyed the fact that the MPs wanted to listen to young people’s views and it was great getting to vote on the issues that mattered to me. I really enjoyed the day – it was great!”

Global Youth Action supports young people to explore and take action on the global issues that matter to them. The groups now aim to meet their local MPs to follow up on the issues debated in Parliament.

The ‘My Life, My Say’ youth debate was organised and chaired by Dawn Butler MP, Vice Chair of the Labour Party with responsibility for Youth, and Justice Minister Bridget Prentice MP was also present for much of the event.

For further information contact Melanie Ward on 020 7922 7938 or 07966 104228