Putting young people’s voices at the heart of politics
Across the country, young people are calling out for their voices to be hear on the issues that matter to them. Whether about political education, the environment, or social media, young people’s insights are some of the most insightful and authentic, yet young people typically don’t feel part of the decision-making process.
With so many young people feeling disenfranchised with politics, there is a clear need to positively include and involve young people — to give them a seat at the table in the decisions that affect their future and to change the narrative, so they know their voices are important.
Creating space for young people
Before I became a politician, my background was in youth work. I know how amazing young people are and how much they can achieve if they are empowered and feel listened to. Since being elected, I’ve continued to prioritise opportunities for young people to have their voices heard, be that by visiting schools, running events, or highlighting their ideas in Parliament.
My first Backbench Business Debate, on access to PE and Sport in Schools, was inspired by one of my young constituents, Tane, from Sir Graham Balfour School in Stafford, who I met during a school visit. Tane wrote to me afterwards to highlight his concerns about declining engagement with exercise amongst young people, as well as to share his ideas on how better access to exercise could benefit young people both physically and mentally. I was proud to champion this topic in the House of Commons — it was important to me for him to hear his words used in that place — and to see so many MPs attend and talk passionately about the benefits of sport for young people.
A strategy for the future
Tane’s letter was not a one-off. Across the country, young people are calling out for spaces to be heard on issues that matter to them. It’s up to us to create them.
One brilliant opportunity for that is the consultation taking on the Government’s upcoming National Youth Strategy — a once in a generation opportunity for young people to help shape Government policy that affects their futures. To get a more personal sense of the feelings of local young people, alongside the Government’s nationwide survey and six regional events, I decided to host my own event for the young people of Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages.
What do young people want the Government to prioritise?
The session covered young people’s worries for the future, which included financial inequality, exam pressure, social media and misinformation, climate change, the global political climate, safety, and political education.
We then moved on to discuss their hopes for the future, which ranged from the personal — career success and good jobs, achieving good qualifications and going to university — to wider issues like better accessibility, reduced inequality, lowering the cost of living, and using more environmentally friendly alternatives.
The final question I asked them was “what one thing could the Government do to improve things for young people?” and the answers ranged from better political education so that young people are engaged with democracy, to holding polluting oil and fast fashion companies to account. I will proudly be taking their ideas from this session back to Westminster.
It's time young people feel part of the decision-making process. We must give them a seat at the table for decisions that affect their future, empower them to deliver change in their communities, and consistently create spaces for them to be heard. Their future is our future, after all.
Leigh Ingham is the Labour Member of Parliament for Stafford.
