Young People from across the United Kingdom attended this year’s UK Youth Parliament’s Annual Conference at Hull University from Tuesday 25 August to Thursday 27 August 2026.
It was a very long journey travelling by train to reach the university site, where almost 300 Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) met for the first time, along with their workers, National Youth Agency event hosts and numerous influential young guest speakers.
They were welcomed in an opening ceremony by several speakers, and the MYP’s representative body and their Steering Group (who are also elected as young people and young adults).
Savannah Hanson, TEDx talk speaker and Steering Group member, kicked off Wednesday’s activity with some insightful inspiration. It was particularly relevant to the young representatives and their ability to engage in challenging debate with the aim of winning hearts and minds rather than permanently alienating people.
Savannah’s presentation was powerful, rousing and moving, while also relatable, sharing her personal story but also making the MYP’s laugh. She spoke on the relevance of ‘being right’ and how we can be divided by opposing and challenging views.
The MYP’s then gathered to participate in a gruelling day of back-to-back workshops designed to embed core UK Youth Parliament values and principles as well upskill the MYPs with confidence and newfound abilities. Workshops were:
- Restorative Practice & Communication – The Restorative Lab
- Media, Safety & Good Practice for MYPs – Childnet and NYA
- The Art of Storytelling – Dasha Dollar-Smirnova, Frog Talk
- Wellbeing Matters – a Little Bit of Sunshine
- Campaign Creation – UKYP Steering Group
- EDI Training – Regional Ethnic Majority Youth
On the final day the MYPs debated priority topics for young people, identified from top campaigns from across the UK. The areas for debate were:
- Mental Health Wellbeing and safe Spaces
- Jobs, careers and Future prospects
- Anti Hate Crime and Anti-Discrimination Education
MYP’s spent their last morning representing their constituents debating which topic should become their next manifesto priority.
The MYP’s have now cast their votes, and imminent results will shape their next conversations at the next House of Commons debate.
The MYP’s worked incredibly hard over these intense few days, so ended the conference with a well-deserved opportunity to have fun, make friends, and socialise.
Our attending Somerset MYP’s Luca and Eva were challenged and certainly tested beyond their comfort zones with the ability and opportunities to speak up and speak out! These experiences are invaluable in helping them to test their beliefs and become stronger and more confident representatives!
Luca said: “It was a pleasure spending time in Hull representing my constituents and navigating through many workshops which granted me insight and skills into youth work. I hope to make use of other opportunities like this!”
And Eva said: “The annual conference 2026 was such a special experience for me. Being surrounded by so many passionate young people and hearing the different perspectives of the young people made me realise just how powerful our voices can be. Also having the opportunity to speak up about the issues that matter to us can really make a big impact within youth. I’m really proud to be part of a group of young people from across the country that are so determined to make a positive difference.”
Not just elected members
Did you know that Somerset Youth Parliament isn’t just it’s elected members? Any young person in Somerset aged 10-25 years can become a member of the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group.
For more information about becoming a member of the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group and to join, visit our Join Us page.
