|
Young Wiganers air views in Parliament
Wigan Borough’s UK Youth Parliament
representatives will take part in a historic debate tomorrow (Friday May
2nd).
Dane Smith, 17, a land surveyor from Worsley Mesnes and Sean Bates, 16,
a student from Springfield, will join 300 other Members of the UK Youth
Parliament (MYPs) in The House Of Lords to debate issues which are
important to young people.
This is the first time the UK Youth Parliament has sat in The House Of
Lords and is one of the few times the house has been open to anyone
other than the Lords.
There are six issues up for debate: national public transport concession
cards for young people under the age of 18, university tuition fees, the
single age at which young people are deemed to become an adult, fair and
accurate representation of young people in the media, lowering the
voting age to 16 and recycling and the environment.
Sean said: “The issue I will be fighting for mainly is getting national
concession cards for public transport for all young people. Quite a lot
of young people use public transport, not just in getting to school and
college but in meeting their friends too. If we are successful it will
make it a lot cheaper for them to get around. This issue is very
important to me.”
Dane added: “There are 300 young people going to the debate, so it will
be hard for me and Sean to get our voices heard. I am going to do my
best to make sure that the voices and opinions of young people from the
Wigan borough are listened to.”
The MYPs’ trip to The House Of Lords is being funded by the UK Youth
Parliament, The House Of Lords and Parliament’s Education Service.
Angela Wood, Wigan Council Children and Young People’s Services Youth
Participation Worker said: “This is an amazing opportunity to have young
people’s views from Wigan borough heard. We fully support the UK Youth
Parliament and are sure Sean and Dane will do their best to express the
needs of Wigan’s young people. ”
Andy Hamflett, Chief Executive of UK Youth Parliament said: “I know that
each and every one of the MYPs will rise to the challenge by feeding in
the views of young people from all over the UK, by passionately debating
the issues that most matter to them, and by coming up with concrete
action plans that will really make a difference.”
To find out how local young people can get their views heard or for more
information about the UK Youth Parliament in Wigan Borough contact
Angela Wood on 01942 510112 or email
youngvoices@wiganmbc.gov.uk
-ends-
Notes to Editors
Photo attached
• For further information please contact Gillian Ellis, Press Assistant
at the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Youth Information Team, on
(01942) 486924.
►
Return to LINC News
|
