We think Somerset Youth Parliament is a really special group, made up of amazing young people…but we’re pretty biased. So, luckily we have Grace, a member of the Somerset Youth Parliament advisory group, who’s written a lovely article about the group.
Somerset Youth Parliament is a group of young people from diverse backgrounds and lives who all share a common goal – achieving real change for the young people of Somerset, as well as the entire UK.
We meet regularly to discuss important issues for young people in our society. Things such as – education, crime and safety, mental health, climate concerns, protecting our natural environment and financial awareness – amongst SO many other topics!
We come together to address these topics, engaging in friendly debates to voice our opinions, and discuss how and if we can make improvements to people’s lives.
Through Youth Parliament, you can gain a range of skills and knowledge allowing you to advocate for change and improvements for people. As well as gaining more awareness and understanding, debating and presentation are also skills you can improve at Youth Parliament.
Most sessions, we engage in mock debate about different topics and practice presenting about an issue of interest in front of the rest of the group. We all have differing opinions and experiences which makes it so interesting as we learn from each other. And while this may initially sound nerve-wracking, the group is really supportive, and we have fun which helps you gain confidence in public speaking – a skill useful in a variety of settings.
Alongside improving and gaining skills, you will also make lots of new friends who are all interested in making positive changes, and will encourage you and work alongside you to achieve these positive changes
Grace
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.
