United Kingdom Youth Parliament Elections 2024

Manifesto 1

I believe a really important issue at the moment affecting young people is mental health. This is important to me because mental health has an effect on other issues that young people face, for example, improving mental health could also lower crime rates, increase employability and subsequently lower poverty rates. Mental health is an issue that is not always deemed important, or dealt with in the correct manner and I believe this should change. I will raise awareness of and collaborate with organisations that support young people's mental health. I would work on building a wider support network for the Wirral allowing young people to access as many services to improve their mental health as this reduces social isolation. Furthermore, I would consult and work closely with youth voice groups and young people of the Wirral to allow them to have their voices heard on what impacts them and what I can do to improve their mental well-being. I have a passion and interest in politics and the world around us, I would like to make a difference to my local area and the future for young people here.

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU A GOOD UK MYP? I have experience in and am passionate about youth voice, for example, I am a member of the Hive Ambassadors and have been involved in youth voice since the age of eight. I've had experience in public speaking, as I have attended a Youth Parliament debate.

Manifesto 2

Poverty, financial instability and inequality. These issues are important to me as they cause young people to fail to succeed in the education system, this threatens a young person’s future in society. I am very passionate about these particular issues, especially inequality regarding gender, race and sexual orientation. Young people face any type of this discrimination every day and this needs to be abolished in society. Education for young people is imperative and the issuse stated are the main causes of failure within the education system. I would campaign mainly by giving speeches as this is the best way to communicate with people and allow them to hear my thoughts and it would also allow me to hear them. Moreover, the use of posters and even radio would be extremely beneficial so people from all over can be notified about my campaign and what I am doing to help those affected in society. From a very young age I have always wanted to be the Prime Minister, I am extremely passionate about issues affecting young people in society and I have always wanted to help and support vulnerable people and be their voice. Those who are not listened to in society must have a voice and their opinions need to be valued, I am willing to be that voice and strive to end these issues.

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU A GOOD UK MYP? I believe i would be a great MYP as i have always been passionate about what i believe in such as: the environment, women’s rights, and poverty. If elected I would, to the best of my ability, speak for those in society who are not listened to and strive to end these issues one and for all. I am a sixth form student at Weatherhead High School and I study History, Religion and philosophy and ethics, and Sociology. My personal skills are: being confident enough to speak to the public and not afraid to hear criticisms of my work. I have achieved my first half of my second degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and I am also the Poet Laureate for my school. I love reading and writing poetry about life and emotions. My passions include: Feminism, the environment, the government and politics. I am a vegan and devoted to advocating saving the lives of animals through poetry and social media. I would be a devoted MYP and stand up to issues affecting young people in society.

Manifesto 3

I am passionate about preventing poverty on Wirral, especially childhood poverty. In this cost-of-living crisis I think it is important, now more than ever before, to ensure people are aware of opportunities and services available to them. Building community networks is at the heart of this, creating spaces where people can work collectively to support each other and strengthen their communities. It is important that we consider marginalised groups when developing these spaces to prevent social isolation and create equity that ensures no one is left behind. This will also work toward eliminating preconceived ideas and prejudices of different sections of society including young people who I believe are unfairly portrayed by the media and often the communities in which they live. My proposal of creating spaces to network and learn of available opportunities will enable young people to access available support and have the chance to gain the skills needed to secure a job that will provide financial stability for them in the future.

Being new to the area I have first-hand experience of being socially isolated and understand the importance of community and belonging. I initially was unsure of what was available and found it difficult to access the information. I was lucky to be able to find services that enabled me to establish friendships and take advantage of available opportunities, but not every young person is so lucky. I believe that the lack of awareness of available services and opportunities on Wirral can lead to young people being drawn into less desirable options such as gang culture. By taking steps to improve aspirations and creating community-based support systems we can break the cycle of gang culture and intergenerational poverty. This will have a long-lasting impact on not only young people and their life chances, but also society as a whole. I would like to work with local community groups, councillors, providers, and businesses to ensure that there are spaces that community members can access to build networks, strengthen communities and learn of opportunities. Having different ages in these spaces promotes community and creates a wider support network and sense of belonging for young people. My aim is that these spaces will be in each community to ensure that they are accessible by all. I will begin by establishing focus groups of young people and some older community members, as well as consult with people out in the community, to help identify the need in each of the area. I will achieve this via posters, social media, stalls in local shopping centres, existing community events, schools and youth groups.

I am keen to work alongside other youth providers to ensure that young people’s views are high on the agenda. Which will include having a role within youth forums and similar spaces. I will ensure these voices are heard within the decision-making process about where we put resources within communities. As well as make links with local providers and businesses to explore ways of working together and combining resources to create spaces that build community networks and enabling communities, specifically young people, to gain awareness of the opportunities available in their area. Providing a safe space that gives opportunity for people to have a voice and feel empowered within their area. This can further be enhanced by improving links with local foodbanks and social supermarkets that could provide food. To be able to make positive changes on a local and national scale. I want to meet people, make better connections and build community. To be the person that will listen to young people and ensure their voices are heard because I didn’t feel like I had a voice in the past and often felt ignored and misunderstood. Due to this I understand the negative impacts of this especially on young people.

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU A GOOD UK MYP? I am honest and transparent in what I do, I speak my mind and like to explore new concepts. I am good at verbalising ideas and passionate about making sure all voices are heard. I am reasonable and diplomatic and can gain an understanding of different viewpoints in an empathetic way. As I am part of a marginalised group, I understand that people have varied needs and I want to ensure that all viewpoints are heard and considered. I see myself as someone who is determined and will fight for young people to not only have their voices heard but their rights upheld. As someone is neurodiverse and also part of the LGBTQ+ community I understand about being inclusive and ensuring opportunities are accessible. Through my personal experiences I know what it feels like to be marginalised and isolated and want to ensure no other young person feels this way. Some of my personal interests include nature, animals, and the environment. I enjoy art and culture, and have a keen interest in politics and human rights. I believe in empowerment and giving people a voice, especially those who are without one. I am currently working with a local youth provider to establish youth forums which enable young people to hold council with services, providers and councillors from their area. I feel this will aid in my objectives as UK MYP as I will already be working with young people to gain their views and building links within the community that I will be able to utilise during my campaign.

Manifesto 4

A big issue on the Wirral is how dirty/littered the streets are. It makes it really difficult for older children/teens to go out and about, and it’s horrible for animals. I’ve noticed that when I go out in places like Greasby, Heswall, West Kirby and Liverpool it’s full of rubbish. I have a younger brother (2 years old) and not only do I want to make sure that his future isn’t full of pollution, I also want to make it safer to take him to the park, or to walk him to our Nan’s house. He likes to grab things off the floor, and he’s picked up so many dangerous things, like old vapes and sharp objects, and I know I’m not the only person who notices this. It’s so harmful, especially for younger children and animals, and I think it needs to change. I’d spread the word by mouth by telling my friends, and get them to tell their friends, I would post about it on social media, I’d put posters around school/in my neighbourhood and I’d make sure to give reasons for why we’re campaigning. For example, if we were to campaign against littering on West Kirby’s beach, I’d put out posts on social media, I’d tell people about it, I’d put eye-catching posters around school and would give reasons as to why it should stop. I’d like to be an MYP for a number of reasons. I enjoy politics, I want to make things better for the future youth but most of all it’s because of people I look up to. My history teacher also teaches politics, and I love hearing about historical politics, as well as current. It’s really interesting to hear about past parliament problems, as it gives an interesting perspective on parliament now. It sometimes helps find solutions to current problems. Like the Plague, for example, comparing it to COVID-19 gives an interesting point of view and it shows how much technology has changed but also has somehow stayed so similar. My friend also plays quite a big part in my love of politics. She teaches me quite a lot about the different parties and such, but she’s also a brilliant person. Her passion for politics has passed down to me and I want to show her how much she’s helped me the past few years and that all her hard work has not and will not go unnoticed. I feel that the more I contribute to things like Youth parliament, and the more I contribute to helping today’s and the future’s youth, the more I’m repaying everyone for all the knowledge and help they have given me.

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU A GOOD UK MYP? I would be a good MYP because I’m an excellent listener and problem solver, I understand the problems that different age groups are going through thanks to my vast group of school friends (11-17) and I’m very persistent. I do struggle with things, but no matter how hard I find it I always find a way to get around it. Whether it’s me asking someone for help, or changing the way I’m doing it, I always make sure I get it done and it’s done to the best of my ability. I also have a variety of interests and that gives me a good understanding of what other people enjoy, making me a great source to find out what teens would want. I’m good at history, which, as I mentioned in a previous answer, is a great way to understand problems now and find solutions as well as seeing where people went wrong in the past and finding ways to fix that. I’m great at spreading word, I enjoy debates/law making me a good choice to convince people to make a change, to convince people to take part in things, and to convince people to try and make things better for the youth. I personally believe that I deserve to be apart of the Youth Council as I am a passionate young woman who will do anything for what she believes in, I’m great at working with others and I truly want to make a change for children and teens nowadays because they have too many struggles and I want to make a difference and help them.

Manifesto 5

An issue affecting many young people on the Wirral is personal safety. This may be when walking home from school, waiting at a bus stop or going for a run or on a walk to meet friends. I think it is a basic right to feel safe in our own community. Behaviours such as looking over your shoulder, changing your route home, holding keys in your palm when you are walking home or keeping alert but pretending to listen to music should not be the norm. The worry over being cat-called, chased or even threatened by gangs of other young people is a real concern for myself and others on the Wirral. This is an important issue for me as a 15 year old girl , I enjoy running, but often feel unconfident to go out alone due to these experiences.

The risk to personal safety is a widespread concern -highlighted with recent cases nationally and locally. In Summer 2023, a young person was stabbed on the Wirral, whilst out celebrating the end of GCSEs -what should have been an evening of celebration became a scary and dangerous experience. This highlights an extreme concern over personal safety on The Wirral and the worry that other young people may resort to carrying knives in an attempt to protect themselves. Feeling unsafe is not just when out in a local town, but can also be when waiting for a bus or train or when travelling on public transport. Being worried about going out may prevent people from socialising or accessing leisure or sport opportunities. It may also affect travelling to work, school or college and lead to a feeling of isolation. There are three main areas on which I would campaign to raise awareness of young people’s safety and to practically improve this issue. I would wish to fully understand the extent of the problem and ideally would want to conduct a survey for young people to determine which areas on The Wirral they feel less safe in - and why?

Firstly there are likely to be environmental reasons why some areas feel less safe- for example poor street lighting, unlit bus-stops and few places where you feel able to ask for help. Options to campaign on this may include resource for street lights at bus stops, near schools or youth and sports centres. In addition, the use and placement of panic buttons, and the possible introduction of safety hubs would be a further area to consider. Fear of gangs and knife crime is a second area to be explored with young people -as well as looking at local data to understand the extent of the problem. This is a complex issue, but looking at youth support both in and out of school may be important. This may include looking at how youth clubs and sports facilities may be a factor in decreasing the number of young people who join gangs. Education is a third key area to consider, ensuring not only that young people have access to designated safe places and clubs (such as the Hive and Pilgrim Street in Birkenhead) but are aware that these places exist. Last year I was a mentor for the “violence prevention programme” in my school. This highlighted to me that many young people are not aware of the services available on the Wirral and online which they can use if feeling unsafe. I would really like to take on the role of an MYP. I have been interested in politics and current affairs from a young age, as I like being in touch with the world and the people around me. I would be proud to advocate for my friends and peers as well as standing up for what I believe in. I feel strongly about social inequalities and would like the opportunity to better understand the causes and possible solutions to this. I try to understand how other people form their opinions and beliefs. I like listening to people’s experiences and seeing the similarities and differences with my own. I like to work and discuss ideas with others and enjoy problem solving and the challenge this can bring.

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU A GOOD UK MYP? I am excited by politics-both locally and worldwide! I am friendly and enjoy meeting and talking with others. For over a year I have been part of Liverpool City Region Youth Combined Authority, attending weekly meetings, representing the young people on the Wirral and working with others from across the City Region. I have worked on the Metro Mayor’s five priority areas for regional development. I have written motions for debates and asked questions to workers from the combined authority including the Metro Mayor. This has improved my confidence when raising concerns and ideas and provided me with a greater insight into how decisions are made. I have also had to ensure I am organised and use my time effectively. Last summer I did work experience at my local MPs office. I undertook tasks such as helping with casework, writing parliamentary questions and conducting research tasks. This not only helped to develop my passion for politics but was an invaluable experience and allowed me to greater understand the role and responsibilities of an MP.

More recently I have been an active member in my local political party: delivering leaflets, attending monthly meetings and knocking on doors. This has helped me to gain a greater insight into some of the concerns people are facing locally as well as improvements many would like to see within our local area. My other main interest is running and athletics and I train as often as I can in the week. Within school I am also a sports representative, raising issues from my year relating to sport and PE and feeding them back to the school council. I enjoy using my passion for sports and having greater involvement with this in my school community

Manifesto 6

There are many issues for young people that I feel aren’t sometimes recognised as of our young age it is also common for elders to blame our emotions on puberty and not give us any useful help. I believe that everyone is affected by the current state of Earth. However the younger generation will have to live in this poor environment that is being affected by our unhealthy way of life. I am also passionate about how in this day of age people should not be subjected to racism, sexism, transphobia or homophobia. I think that we as an intelligent species we should be beyond this kind of incompetence. I am very passionate about all these issues and feel I have a very strong understanding of how the world should be no one should have to deal with any kind of oppression. I know that I can’t do all the things I want to achieve and some things may not change if people don’t change as-well but I feel I can give it a good shot. I am willing to give speeches and question the public’s youth on what they want changed. I would then find a responsible way to change our community to adapt to the youth’s needs. I have been passionate about change since a young age and feel I need to make that change.

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU A GOOD UK MYP? I am very passionate, I want to make a change and help those of my age. As I feel we aren’t always listened to and I want to make a change.

Manifesto 7

A lot of young people have been struggling with mental health and have been self-harming. This is important to me because I care about others and would love to help improve people’s lives. On top of this, if I became a MYP I would try and stop discrimination, mainly against racism, age, gender and disability because I believe that no one should be judged and we should all try and treat each other with respect. If I got one of the roles of a MYP, I would hope to change both of these by making sure schools have more of a support system, allowing the pupils to have more trust in their teachers and have someone in school to turn to. I would also encourage people going into schools to talk about discrimination and how to change behaviour, as I do realise that sometimes it does depend on how you have been raised. I would also encourage people to go into schools about their mental health and things they can do to prevent self-harming. For example, ways to manage stress as that can be a cause of self-harm. One of the things that has made me want to become an MYP is that I care about the community and want to help improve it. I already do this by going to police and navy cadets and it is something that I contribute to and love doing. On top of this, I want to change people’s attitudes positively as I believe if everyone or even majority of people can become more positive and kind to each other, it will prevent many crimes and have a positive affect to our society

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU A GOOD UK MYP? What would make me a great MP is that I have strong communication and interpersonal skills and I will be disciplined and dedicated towards the program. I am a quick learner with a passion for helping others, which proves this as I go to both naval and police cadets out of my own free time and I dedicate to both of these. On top of this, I have excellent problem-solving abilities as pay strong attention to detail. I also work amazingly as a team as I listen to others and can be a great team leader.