Worcestershire Youth Cabinet

Two Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs) from Worcestershire will be attending the UK Youth Parliament Annual Sitting in Belfast.

MYPs Elise Hollins, who represents Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest; Robert Reitz, who represents Redditch and Wychavon and Alex White, who represents Worcester District and is Chair of the Worcestershire Youth Cabinet.

The Annual Sitting, which takes place July 23-26 at Ulster University in Belfast, will see MYPs from across the UK come together to take part in workshops and debates, they will also look at developing the UK Youth Parliament’s campaigns for the year ahead and bringing the issues of local young people to a national stage. This will be the first time the Sitting has taken place in Northern Ireland.

Young people who would like to raise any issues they would like to be taken forward to the Annual Sitting should contact their MYP via Kirsty Fraser, Worcestershire County Council’s Youth Voice Development Worker, on 01905 827489, email kfraser@worcestershire.gov.uk or youthcabinet@worcestershire.gov.uk.

For more information about the Youth Parliament, visit www.ukyouthparliament.org.

Today, Monday 12th April, 2010, me and Alex went to Bromsgrove to take part in a politics discussion for BBC radio 5 live. Politicians had representatives from each of the leading parties and a representative from scottish parliament. Many issues were raised in the debate, such as, the expences scandals, lowering the voting age and how to restore trust in politicians. There were 200 people there all who wanted to get across their views and ask their questions about what they were passionate about when it comes to politics.I througholy enjoyed the debate as it opened my eyes to a lot of issues surrounding politics. I also felt that through out the debate it became more apparent that young people have a more optimistic outlook on politics. Views that were raised, particularly surrounding the voting age, I think would be appropriate to raise in cabinet meetings to see if there are improvements that can be made by the Worcestershire Youth Cabinet. To conclued, the debate was very enjoyful, I learnt alot and feel some of the things said could benefit the youth cabinet.

from,
Miss Tayla-Anne Granner of Kidderminster Town, Worcestershire.

Alex and Tayla  from The Worcestershire Youth Cabinet took part in a live debate on national radio station BBC 5 Live. The event was presented Victoria Debryshire and attended by over 150 people, including Hilary Benn, Tony Write from Labour, Simon Huges from Lib Deb, Grant Shapps from the Conservatives and Keith Brown from SNP.

Alex and Taylor both raised the issues of lowering the legal voting from 18 to 16 and the fact education given to young people in the run up to them being able to vote is just good enough.  They also talked about the MP’s expense scandals and how this may have affected trust in the government.

Tayla has been invited back to take part in a BBC Radio WM election debate taking place on Wednesday 14^th April, this will be presented by Joanne Malin and attended Jacqui Smith MP, if anyone aged 11- 18 has any issues that they would like Tayla to voice at this event please contact her via the Worcestershire Youth Cabinet Website or email kfraser@worcestershire.gov.uk

If you would like to listen to the live debate please follow this link where the show will be avalible for a further 7 days

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s063nRadio 5 Live Radio 5 Live

Robert, Ellen and Max

Three MYPs (members of youth parliament) were elected by young people aged 11 to 18 from across worcestershire who collectively cast 6,516 votes.

The result of the election was announced on Saturday 20th February in the Council Chamber , County Hall.

The new MYP for West Worcestershire – which includes Worcester, Malvern and Upton-upon-Severn – is 12-year-old Max Robinson, of Whitbourne, near Worcester, who beat three other candidates to the post.

“I stood so I could help the voices of young people be heard,” he said. “I am elated to have won.”

East Worcestershire’s (Redditch, Evsham, Persore, Droiwich) new MYP is Robert Rietz, aged 15, of Redditch.

He said: “I entered because I wanted to help out other people, and I’m really ecstatic about being an MYP.

“While I’m in office I hope to get cheaper car insurance for teenagers because a lot of my friends at school are complaining about it.”

Elise Hollins, 12, of Bromsgrove, won the North Worcestershire seat (Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest.

She hopes to raise the profile of her school and improve things in her community.

“I had the backing from my whole school,” she said.

“They are going to be so happy I won and I am over the moon.”

The new MYPs will now take their places on the Worcestershire Youth Cabinet as well as the work that they will be doing on a regional and national level with UK Youth Parliament.

Councillor Andy Roberts, Mayor of Worcester, who spoke at the event, said he thought it was important for the young people to be involved with schemes such as the UK Youth Parliament.

“Although we want them to have a childhood, we want them to understand the importance of local and national government has in their lives,” he said.

“They need to be realistic and know they need to work hard to achieve things, which this teaches them.”

Young people from across the county will go to the polls over the coming weeks for this year’s United Kingdom Parliament (UKYP) elections.

A total of 22 young people from Worcestershire, aged between 11 and 18, are standing in the elections, which have been organised by the council’s Youth Support.

Young people will go to the polls at venues across the county from today (January 25) until February 7.

The following three seats are up for grabs:

Four candidates - West Worcestershire (currently occupied by Alice Murphy from Worcester Sixth Form College).
Nine candidates - East Worcestershire (currently occupied by Ario Bagheri from Droitwich Spa High School Sixth Form).
Nine candidates - North Worcestershire (currently occupied by Ellen Cochrane from North Bromsgrove High School).
The results are set to be announced at County Hall on February 20.

Councillor Liz Eyre, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People (12-19 years), said: “Now’s the time for young people from across Worcestershire to shape future decisions that affect them. We’re pleased with the number of candidates who are standing in the elections and are looking forward to welcoming plenty of young people to our polling stations throughout the county.”

UKYP was launched at the House of Commons in July 1999 and held its first setting in London in 2001. Each Local Education Authority (LEA) in England represents a UKYP constituency.

Once elected, MYPs work with their MPs, councillors, school and youth councils and peer group members on the issues of greatest concern to their constituents. It regularly brings together its MYPs at a regional level to organise campaigns, projects and events and identify common issues of concern.

People interested in finding out more should  call Kirsty Fraser at Worcestershire County Council on 01905 827489 or email kfraser@worcestershire.gov.uk

• Do you have something to say about being a young person

• Is there something you would change if you had the power to do it?

This is for anyone between 11 to 18.  If there’s nothing to do in your area or you feel adults don’t listen to you, then do something about it!

This is your chance to stand up and be heard……

If you are interested in the Worcestershire Youth Cabinet or the UK Youth Parliament then everything you need to know is on this website.  You currently have the chance to vote for the candidate who you want to represent you.  Whoever is elected will speak to County Councillors and other decision makers, on behalf of young people across the county.  Therefore it is important that you get the chance to have a say on who you want to be your voice!

We are sending official ballot boxes, lists of manifestos from each candidate and ballot papers across the county to schools and colleges.

We will also make sure that there are open access voting stations that anyone can go along to and vote, such as youth centres.

If you would like to vote, or know of a place that would like a ballot box, please just give us a shout and we will organise this for you asap.  You can get hold of us on 01905 827489.

Youth Cabinet members met with County and District Coucillors at the launch of Worcestershire's Youth Manifesto

Its official

The Worcestershire Youth Manifesto was launched on the 3rd November at a big event held in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Worcester.
We also used this event to debate 3 key issues;

• Transport,
• Education
• Positive image of young people in the media

An invited audience made up of some of the county’s most prominent decision makers, including County and District Councillors, services providers joined in the discussions. The issues raised  will now be taken forward by decision makers and the Youth Cabinet.