Young people in Shropshire are being given more opportunities to make their voices heard as preparations begin for the Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) elections.
Shropshire Council’s Youth Support Team is taking ballot boxes and papers to schools and colleges this week (December 2009) for the county’s MYP elections. Schools and colleges are also being provided with information on MYPs and the elections.
MYPs represent young people locally, regionally and nationally, and influence policies on a range of issues which affect them. The achievements of Shropshire’s current MYPs, Jamie Taylor and Joe White, include joining more than 300 Members of the UK Youth Parliament in making history on 30 October when they took over the House of Commons chamber. It was the first time in 300 years that anyone other than MPs have debated in the Commons.
Voting for the MYP elections will take place in schools and colleges in January and the results will be announced in February 2010. More than 12,000 votes were cast in this year’s elections which is the biggest turn-out since they were first held in Shropshire in 1999.
Among the members of the Shropshire Youth Support Team helping to prepare for the elections is Emma Foster, the new young people’s participation worker. Emma, aged 19, from Whitchurch, will also work to develop effective ways of consulting with other young people, to help ensure that their views are shared. Young people helped to design the recruitment process for the role and were involved in the interviews themselves.
Councillor Aggie Caesar-Homden, Shropshire Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “I would like to welcome Emma to the council. Emma’s work and the MYP elections are among a wide range of initiatives which are important in helping young people to have their say.
“Our MYPs have a huge responsibility in representing young people in Shropshire. I have worked closely with them for a number of years and I am very proud of the work that they do. We do listen carefully to the views of young people which helps us to shape our policies and I would strongly encourage young people to put themselves forward for these elections.”
Emma said: “I am excited to join the team and am looking forward to working with young people and finding out their ideas on how we can improve services for them.”
Joe White, Shropshire MYP, said: "Being involved in the participation worker process has been one of many honours I have experienced as an MYP. It has been fantastic to have the opportunity to represent the young people of Shropshire, and I would encourage other young people to stand as candidates in the forthcoming elections.”
Issued: 11 December 2009