Following on from their success at the Somerset Youth Parliament elections earlier in the year, April marks the beginning of the two-year term of office for our three new Somerset Members of Youth Parliament.
Somerset’s newest Members of Youth parliament are Eva, Blake and Luca, who in addition to starting their terms of office, will also be kickstarting the campaigns that they each will be working on over their term.
- Eva’s campaign will be looking at sports in schools and colleges across the county, finding out what sport young people are doing, what sport they would like to be doing, what barriers to taking part there are and what can be done to make sports more accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for children and young people.
- Blake will be looking at money skills and financial literacy education in schools with his campaign, finding out what young people would like to and what they already know about bills, budgeting and saving, as well as researching and promoting support resources that exist. In addition Blake will be talking to businesses, organisations and networks about work experience opportunities for Somerset’s children and young people.
- Luca’s campaign is focused on misinformation, finding out where young people get their news and information, fact checking and evaluating for accuracy. In addition Luca will be working with key figures in communities across the county to make sure that the voices of children and young people are heard and acted on.
Eva said about standing for office “I am incredibly honoured to have been elected as a Member of Youth Parliament for Somerset. I’m really excited to begin working on my manifesto. Thank you very much to everyone who supported me throughout the election time and for everyone that voted for me in the election. I’m looking forward to working hard to make sure young people across Somerset are all heard equally”.
Luca said about standing for office “I’m excited to see where this opportunity will take me. It’ll be an interesting few years of my life.”
With three new Somerset Members of Youth Parliament taking office, we sadly have to say goodbye to our two current members. We want to take this moment to thank Emma and James for their hard work and contributions during their term. Each have gone above and beyond, representing Somerset Youth Parliament at UK Youth Parliament sittings at the House of Commons, on Somerset Council recruitment interview panels, at Children’s Parliament events, as a keynote speaker at Somerset’s Sustainable Futures event, participating at service forums and all while also studying for and sitting their GCSEs. We’re incredibly fortunate to have had two incredible young people representing Somerset Youth Parliament.
Emma said of her time as a Somerset Member of Youth Parliament “The role of a Member of Youth Parliament is so important for young people, those who are elected and for those who they represent, Allowing young people to have a voice through regional, national and local decision makers. Throughout my time as a Member of Youth Parliament, I have enjoyed interacting with young people in Youth Parliament and outside of it. I will take away the many skills that I have learnt; But, I hope to finish my term with an emphasis on the importance of youth voice and even while not elected I will continue to try and make sure that young people’s voices are heard. A moral that I am sure the fantastic newly elected Members of Youth Parliament will continue to strive for as they start their new campaigns.”
James said of his time as a Somerset Member of Youth Parliament “The last 2 years have been some of the best years of my life and I believe I have represented young people throughout them. I am equally pleased to be handing over my role to such a passionate group of new MYP’s”
Somerset Youth Parliament is a diverse and friendly group built on equality, inclusion, respect and democracy. The group is free to join, it’s fun, interesting and always welcomes new people. Anyone aged between 10 to 25 years old can join the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group at any time, as long as they live, work or go to school in Somerset.
For more information on Somerset Youth Parliament, the current and former Members of Youth Parliament, their campaigns and the Advisory Group, visit the Somerset Youth Parliament website.
