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GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE A VOICE! |
Vote - use it, don’t lose it
17th January 2008
Youth Matters will be following the up and coming North Somerset elections to find our next Member of the UK Youth Parliament (MYP), an event very close to home as it was through the Youth Parliament which Youth Matters was born.
With Lauren Fry in the role of MYP way back in 2006, the Youth Parliament undertook one of its biggest local challenges - to try and improve the image of young people in the media.
Into the term of office of Joshua McTaggart, Youth Matters finally became a reality, and nearly a year later we are still going from strength to strength, covering prominent national issues like knife crime and sex and relationship education, as well as local issues like the dissatisfaction at the poor bus service.
But with elections drawing near, the officers are stepping down and preparing to hand over the roles to two new keen and enthusiastic young people, but who they are depends on YOU.
This year there are SIX candidates for you to choose from, so Youth Matters has tried to help you with your decision by providing you with a rundown of all the candidates.
 Tom Follet, aged 16, feels that young people need more respect, to be treated with justice rather than like second class citizens and wants to have equality in areas like public transport and education.
His main aim is to improve sex education and have better access to contraception, especially condoms.
Reducing bus fares would be his next area for improvement, as Tom feels at the moment a bus is too expensive and the service is very poor.
Tom said: “I want to get young people a better deal, things like dispersal orders are unfair and unjust. Young people deserve respect.”
 Shannon Le Grange, aged 11, believes in getting more places for young people to go, including fantastic facilities like youth clubs.
She does feel however that even in places where such facilities exist there is a lack of proper advertising, which she would aim to improve.
Wishing to develop the student voice, Shannon would try and get more young people involved with decision making that affects them.
Shannon said: “If elected I will try and do my best to make life better for young people, I am ready to give you my time and do my best.”
 Cameron Beames, aged 12, has one main goal, so he can concentrate on this issue and keep the promises he makes to you.
He is very unhappy with the current public transport system, in which buses are often late, overpriced and at an unacceptable standard for young people.
Lots of young people depend on the buses for daily transport and they are being really let down by the system.
Cameron said: “I am reliable, so I will make sure that I will do what I say. You can easily talk to me and I will always consult with you on what I’ve done.”
 Ryan Millard, aged 11, has two main aims. He believes the current state of sport in schools is inadequate and so young people are missing out, he would like to see schools making better use of local leisure facilities such as Hutton Moor.
There is great anger among young people about public transport, so Ryan wants to see the bus service improved, with a cheaper and better system running.
Ryan said: “I can argue across my point very well, and I don’t give up so I can get results”
 Tom Clark, aged 17, has political ambitions for young people in North Somerset, hoping to raise the profile of the Votes@16 campaign in the area, allowing young people to have a real say in what happens both locally and nationally.
With more and more students continuing onto further education, Tom wishes to see EMA available to all students who are working hard and making the most of their studies. Annoyed at the service he receives from the bus service, Tom wants to see First lower its fares and make buses better for young people.
Tom said: “I am a friendly person and that is an important quality in becoming North Somerset’s MYP”
 Belinda Hill, aged 12, is focusing on three campaigns she believes are important to the young people in North Somerset.
The price of buses, Belinda feels, is too expensive for young people to afford, so she would aim to change this.
Recycling is also key to Belinda’s campaign, she wants to see more recycling in schools other than just paper.
Belinda also feels sex education is not up to the right standard, so will make recommendations to the appropriate groups who can change what young people are taught.
Belinda said: “I am a confident person who is not afraid to put my point across, but I am also prepared to listen to your ideas and opinions”
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