Under 18s across Plymouth are being urged to vote in this year’s election to find the city’s new UK Youth Parliament representatives.
Plymouth youth parliament provides opportunities for 11 to18 year olds to use their voice to bring about social change through meaningful representation and campaigning.
Six young people are set to battle it out to become one of four elected young people to represent the city’s youth at a local, regional and national level. The successful candidates will act as the voice of young people and will spend the year ahead campaigning on their manifestos.
The topics covered by the campaigns hoping to be chosen include knife crime and community safety; tackling loneliness; welcoming refugees; mental health and wellbeing and recycling.
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) aims to give the voice of young people the chance to be heard by local and national government. It has been running since 1999 and has over 500 young people in its national membership.
This year Plymouth’s elections are taking place in schools across the city over the next three weeks, between Monday 27 January and Friday 14 February.
The Lord Mayor will announce the results on Wednesday 26 February at the Council House, as part of their role as returning officer.
Councilor Jemima Laing, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Health said: “Our UKYP members do a fantastic job and it’s great to see so many young people as possible with an interest in politics as they could be our future leaders. I hope as many young people come along to cast their vote to elect a strong voice to represent them locally.”
For more information about this year’s candidates or the UK Youth Parliament in general, call Jenny Way, UKYP Coordinator on 01752 307102 or 07788325057
Further information about the UK Youth Parliament is available at www.ukyp.org.uk