More than 1,000 young people in Newham cast their votes last week electing Zara Achhodi and Isa Rafiq to represent them in the UK Youth Parliament.
Zara, 15 from Plashet School, and Isa, also 15 from Lister Community School, will join 300 of their peers from across the country as Members of Youth Parliament (MYP), representing the views of Newham’s young population.
Young people vote for their MYPs in elections every two years. Funded through a grant from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the UK Youth Parliament brings young people into the policymaking and parliamentary process with direct access to decision makers.
Newham Council’s Participation team in the Youth Empowerment Service work in partnership with Pupil Parliament to support and engage diverse young people to take part in the UK Youth Parliament. This enables young people aged 11-18 in schools, colleges and youth zones across the borough to get involved.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz speaking at the count as returning officer said: “The young people involved in this election have demonstrated real ambition. It’s really heartening because we’ve invested so much in the future of our young people. Since May 2018, we’ve placed a massive premium on Newham becoming the best place in the world to grow up. This election, the outcome and the campaign is a testament to the things we want for our young people. I look forward to hearing how Zara and Isa perform in their advocacy roles. It’s a huge honour and a privilege and should not be taken lightly.”
MYPs must be aged 11-18 years old. They must live, work, be educated or volunteer in the constituency in which they stand for election for 14+ hours a week. Elections take place every two years.
For further information about UK Youth Parliament, please visit here.
