Members of Central Beds’ Youth Parliament were given the chance to debate and vote for a national campaign in the House of Commons.
Ellen Burke, who attends Sandy Upper School and is deputy member of UK Youth Parliament went along to the House of Commons with council member Michael Ita, of Redborne School.
They were among 285 members of the UK Youth Parliament who voted as their 2015 national campaign that ‘mental health services should be improved with the help of young people’.
‘A Living Wage for all’ was also chosen as the priority campaign for England, voted for out of five motions in a debate chaired by Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon John Bercow MP.
Ellen said: “Going to the House of Commons was an amazing experience. Being able to sit on the same green benches as many of the MPs who inspire me was an honour to say the least.
“To be able to hear the passionate speeches of the other Members of Youth Parliament and have my say on what the national campaign is going be was incredible. I’m so grateful that I was able to go. It is certainly an experience I won’t forget in a hurry.”
The two campaigns were chosen from five UK Youth Parliament motions. They had been voted for by 876,000 young people across Britain in the annual UKYP Make Your Mark ballot. Central Bedfordshire’s Youth Parliament had enjoyed the highest percentage turnout in the county (23.76 per cent), where 5,796 people had their say.
Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson MP, who attended the House of Commons debate, said: “We have seen Britain’s young people at their best – informed, articulate and passionate. You have demonstrated what Parliament and politics can be at its very best.”
To find out more visit www.centralbedsyouthvoice.wordpress.com or follow @CBYouthVoice on Twitter.