Youth Parliament

Hi my name is Abena. I believe that as young people that we should have the right to voice our opinions not to be shut down by people who are not making the right decisions to help us. We are the future generation the ones who will solve all the problems. I will have three main goals: Tackle, Complete and Achieve. Having me as your representative will mean everyone's voices will be heard and I will try my very best to make our city a safer place.

Hello, I am Ali Ansari, I am 14 and go to Aldersley High School. I am clever, witty and interested in many things like business, computer science and making the education system way better. You should vote for me as a member of the youth parliament because I care about young people of all creeds, race, gender and wealth.

If you elect me, I will work tirelessly to change how schools are run, from day-to-day life to the national curriculum. I see energetic, inquisitive young people be taught what to think rather than how to think, every time they ask a question they are told "that's unrelated to our learning", "don't ask off topic questions" and the message" speak only when spoken to" battered into children's brain which all negatively affects their later life. This is not education; this is keeping children in line. Subjects like politics, money, morals and how society works need to be taught to all young people across the UK. Schools should be fun, engaging, interesting, and meaningful, not dreaded and boring.

Secondly I want young teenagers to have their voices heard, not have them ignored because "you are too young to have an opinion". My message is clear, vote for me for a better future .

The last couple years have shown how we can come together as a nation; but they have also highlighted our flaws. As the next generation it has fallen into our hands to deal with it, but it is hard because we don’t face only a single issue. We face dozens. Knife crime, mental health, poverty and climate change are unfortunately only a few. Issues that all directly impact our future have being ignored for too long. So it is not enough for us to demand change for one of these issues, but all of them and more. And that is exactly what I intend to do. With MYPs from around the country, we are more than capable of improving all of these things. To rally for support systems that actually help students struggling with their mental health; for rigorous standards that ensure that planet isn’t burning under our feet; for accessible benefit schemes that keep children fed and people off the streets; and for systems that tackle underlying causes of knife crime. I am Anna Thomas and I will stand for change.

I wish to stand as a member as the Youth Parliament as this would be a great opportunity for me. It would make me more hardworking and improve skills such as speaking and listening. I think people should vote for me because I am very loyal and I stand by my promises. I have excellent leadership skills which I strive to improve, and I am considerate of everybody; I don't show favouritism as I believe everyone is equal I would make sure everyone's voice is heard and that no one is scared to voice their opinions. I will do this using my own experience to make sure people know they aren't alone.

I believe that I should be voted because I have previously experienced many of the problems young people face today such as bullying and of course, climate change I also have fresh ideas on how to help for example if we use water-run cars we will reduce the effects of global warming and give people a reason not to waste water. I also want to help with amount of anxiety and stress problems to try and stop them, like not punishing misbehaving children but instead help them because who knows what they are going through. I am also a young Muslim whose community is facing hate and I want to help stop Islamophobia in England. I also have many more ideas to offer and I’d really try my best to improve the life of young people in my community.

I think you should vote for me as I will do my best to provide the best for Wolverhampton. I will drive to make an impact to the environment we live in for the better. I will listen to anything and take everyone's ideas into account. I will try to help young people’s voices get out to the best of my ability.

To experience the joy of being in parliament and to improve my communication skills and to represent my school and because I love to work in a group.

I Think That Young People Should Vote for Me Due to My Problem Solving Skills, My Ability to Detain a Situation and My Ability to Be a Role Model for Younger Residents of England. I Wish to Stand to Help People All Over England and Possibly Globally. My Main Targets Are to Tackle Global Warming and to Try to Gradually Reduce Homelessness in Great Britain.

I think I should be youth MP because I would make sure that women have the right to do everything men can and that stereotypes against men and women are stopped I will make sure that domestic abuse has an end to it as well

My name is Grace and I wish to stand as a Youth MP for Wolverhampton. I am very passionate about politics, especially as a tool to improve young people’s lives. Due to Covid, the crisis of mental health in teenagers has undeniably worsened. If I became a Youth MP, I would fight hard to increase resourcing for emotional well-being in schools and youth spaces across Wolverhampton and beyond. I would also push for better education in this area as conversations around psychological health are unfortunately still stigmatised

Another matter I would bring attention to is the ever-growing climate crisis. I do not believe that the current government is doing enough to tackle this emergency, even with the agreements made at COP26. I know that this is an issue of a lifetime for many of us and one that either does, or will in the future, deeply affect our lives and livelihoods – due to its local, national, and international implications.

I am also a firm believer that social justice plays an important role in alleviating both of these crises (and is important in and of itself) due to their heavy human impact and how deeply these crises are affected by socioeconomic factors, which I would bring specific attention to. I am compassionate, personable and a confident speaker; this will allow me to successfully communicate with, and express the feelings of, young people in our area. This is why you should vote for me as a Youth MP for Wolverhampton.

Green spaces, parklands and safe natural areas teeming with wildlife and colour - this is my vision for our future in Wolverhampton. Currently we have one of the lowest ratings for green space in the country at less than 12m2 per capita. Is this a problem? Yes! Can it be solved? Yes - if we have someone to champion this cause on a local and national stage.

The benefits of augmenting the network of green spaces, such as tackling obesity in children and helping climate, mental health and physical wellbeing often go unappreciated and undervalued by those in power. Yes we need to develop as a city, however, Wolverhampton has many brown field sites and disused town centre areas which could be used to breathe life back into the high streets, economy and community leaving green space to be enjoyed by people and animals.

We can achieve this vision, garden cities such as Singapore and Sheffield, in spite of extremely high population densities, have achieved so much, attracting and reintroducing native flora and fauna. This has then attracted economic benefits, increasing investment and jobs in a more pleasurable and safe environment for people to live and work. So, it makes sense to value our green spaces environmentally, economically and socially. I would like to champion this cause if elected as your Youth MP.

Why do I want to be Youth MP? Heres why. I want to be the voice of innovative and creative ideas. I want to express my thoughts in order to support young people with different abilities. I will be able to adapt myself to different circumstances and voice out accordingly. I want my voice to be turned into a supportive and helpful change that will help young people. It has always been my passion to drive some change where there is a demand for improvement, to turn my passion into action, I had started to apply for other available roles, so even before applying for the youth MP role, I had started to take interest in other roles as well.

At present, I am the year 10 senior ambassador, part of Wolverhampton youth council and a head start member, while I have also been a year 7 prefect and year 9 ambassador. My experience of working with different teams will allow me to work in a team and with other members more effectively. As a youth MP, I would be determined to make sure that fulfilling my responsibilities as a youth MP would become my first priority. I hope I will get a chance to make your voices heard. Thank you

I would like to stand for young people as I have experience in leadership for example, I was Head girl in Year 7 I was house captain in year 6 I was part of student council in year 5, I was a peer mentor in year 5 and six and I was part of my primary schools eco committee in year 6. I have a small part in my secondary's school performance called sister act. If I was elected for youth MP, I will bring up big issues like climate change and mental health. I have always put lots effort into my schoolwork.

I am standing to be your Youth MP because I believe I have the experience and dedication to represent you to the standard you deserve. If elected, as well as representing and speaking on key issues facing young people in Wolverhampton today, I will also be raising the following topics that I believe to be important:

1. Ensuring safety for all on the streets, especially women and girls, and will demand a no-tolerance approach to the low- level harassment that young women face daily.

2. Securing equal opportunities for all- every one of us has potential, and the support must be in place to allow each one of us to achieve it, no matter who we are.

3. Stopping Wolverhampton from being left behind nationally.

I want Wolverhampton to be a place that young people want to live in, not a place we feel we have to leave in order to secure opportunities for our futures. If elected, having been a member of Wolverhampton Youth Council for the past two years, I have experience representing young people throughout the city, aided by my determined nature and my desire for immediate action. I am proactive, not afraid of debate and will always stand up for what I believe in- especially when it is to ensure the best for every one of you. If elected, I will represent you; I will ensure that your voice is heard. Because a vote for me is a vote for you. Vote Crust. Thank you :)

I would like to stand for Youth MP for Wolverhampton as I believe I have the qualities of an understanding person and can share the voices of young children of Wolverhampton by bringing their ideas to life. Having actively participated in my school community, I know how to work with opinions from many different points of views. I strongly feel that mental health in children and young people is an important topic to discuss.

Almost 4,000 children suffer from mental health problems in Wolverhampton as of 2018. 50% of diagnosed mental health problems emerge by age 14, rising to 75% by the age of 24. Having bad mental health at this age can cut down people’s lives by 15 to 20 years. Mental health has also been affected because of COVID-19 as children have been isolated and cannot enjoy how they want to. A survey carried out by “Young Minds” (a charity for young people’s mental health) report that 67% of young people believed that the pandemic would have a long-term negative effect on their mental health. There are many ways to prevent and manage mental health issues by making it clear to the public on what mental health is, where you can find support groups and how to talk to family and friends about it. Many do not know this which is why If you vote for me, I will make sure children are better aware of the support available.

I want to give kids a voice. A chance to have an opinion in things that will actually affect us. We may be young (and short in some cases) but we still matter. We are a huge chunk of society and now is the time to prove it, use it to our advantage. I want to help prove that we matter, and we will show it!

We will inherit the Earth one day, all of us will make a difference in our own ways.

So let us make a mark in the world. There is no time like the present.

I wish to stand as a Youth MP because I believe all children should have a say in what happens in the world and I believe I could represent all children across Wolverhampton.

I would like to stand for Youth MP as I am already apart of the Wolverhampton Youth Council and I display roles of commitment, organisation and teamwork. I would like to become a Barrister in the future and have many strong opinions about politics and ways to make the world a better place. I have taken part in the Make your Mark Campaign and also run the Culture & Diversity EDI Team at my school (St Peter’s). I would love the position and I’m really glad I have the opportunity to apply. Thank you

Why member of the youth parliament? I strive to make a difference and I have a love and passion for helping my community. Being involved in many opportunities keeps me busy including being a part of Bilson mini ambassadors for 2years. This is a group where we make decisions about our local community, and we are currently working on a litter and safe space campaign.

This will be the next step of my journey. If I am elected for this role, I will use my knowledge to make sure that every young person is heard. I want to make a difference across the whole of our city. I will be doing this by contacting headteachers to hear the views of their young people, this is to ensure everyone's opinion is heard.

Living in a place you love, is what I want to achieve in this role. Making sure every young person can achieve their dream and have equal opportunity. I strongly believe we all have a part in making a change. So next time you see Keisha Riley I hope it says a member of youth parliament next to it, to see a future change.

My name is Lacey Witkowski, and I am 13 years old. I have lived in several areas in Wolverhampton and have gained experience of what life is like for people in various parts of the city. As a teenager I want to ensure that my fellow teans are represented correcntly and have a voice within the council. For many adults it is easy to lose perspective of what it is like being a teenager in a different generation. Us teanagers are the future leaders of this nation and without our say or understanding of government polices we could inherit a governmen that doesn’ match our values.

During lockdown I understood the importance of public services and their role in society (such as NHS and social services). I now understand the conequences of these services being overburdened in society.

I am passionate about this and feel that the government could address this with funding. Having a Youth MP is of high importance. I believe I can succeed in this role and can help change things for the better.

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up.” Nelson Mandela

I wish to stand for youth parliament Wolverhampton as i am a very confident speaker as well as a good listener. I think that young people should vote for me due to my capabilities. When it comes to group efforts, I will share my ideas and use that them to expand on everybody else's ideas, I believe that I am an outstanding team player in addition, I am very persistent when it comes to problem solving. I am very resilient when it comes to challenges and I’m willing to take upon the role of Youth Parliament.

My name is Maya Patel and I am a year 8 student from Highfields School. I am really passionate about mental health for young people and helping others. This is because mental health has a massive impact on overall health and wellbeing for all individuals.

For 2 years now people have suffered through the COVID pandemic and it has affected on many people especially young people. This has been due to school closures, limited social contact with friends, peers and support from teachers or other adults. Knife crime has been a challenge in society which needs to be changed.

Many initiatives have been implemented by the police and communities. However there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. For many young people, knife crime is often associated with other issues such as poor family relations, gangs or struggling with school life. Climate change has a massive impact all over the world, especially on young people.

Young people are starting to get anxiety about climate change because it could ruin their future life if we don’t do something now. Around 80% of young people said that we have failed to look after our planet and that they are worried for the future. Small changes such as recycling or walking to school instead of using a car are all these changes that can make a big difference.

I believe that I would represent Wolverhampton as an exemplary young person. Youth Parliament is a huge opportunity for young people to thrive in their education, and I would proudly take on that challenge. I can be seen as a resilient person who is a wonderful team player that cares to allow other people to voice their opinions and work together to achieve these goals. I am willing to take on any challenges thrown at me because it helps me preserve and grow as a person!

I am very excited to stand for election as I enjoy being open to new experiences and tackle things with determination and drive. I feel I would be a good candidate for you all because I understand the problems with the youth and try my best to know it from different points of view. I feel there are many topics among the youth that need solutions and I am eager to ensure these are brought to the front of the government and worked on to help our future generation to be the best in society.

I am very passionate about giving everyone the opportunity to have their voice heard and, especially as a black person, I want to give black people a voice to speak, I want to represent them and show we have the opportunity to stand up and speak out.

I have already had experience with this type of work within school as a bullying ambassador which shows my skills in teamwork, public speaking, empathy and creativity. Most importantly is my passion and dedication to making a difference, to making this world better for future generations and for everyone no matter who they are.

Our futures are hanging by a thread. Do you think we are on track to a future filled with mental stability and financial stability with ethnic minorities facing no discrimination on the way? I do not think so. We need change and we need change fast. Wolverhampton has some of the highest youth unemployment rates in England with 13.5% of the youth unemployed as of August 2021.

As you are reading this, many students in secondary school fear for their future, not knowing what options are out there for them. This is a problem that we as young people need to unite and tackle, by electing me, Priya, as your Youth MP, I can assure you that you will not regret your decision. Combatting and pushing through for our futures, we can all unite to raise awareness that it is okay to feel uncertain about our futures, but it is not okay to let our futures go to waste without trying.

With discrimination being one of the most significant factors contributing towards unemployment, whether that is sexual, religious, or economic discrimination a key focus point for me will surround the problems posed by discrimination. If you want to secure your future, if you want to unite and tackle this problem, play your part and vote for me as your next youth MP.

In today's society, the youth are excluded from the world of politics, which is an astonishing truth when considering that we the youth are in fact the future. I believe in proving those who undermine the younger generations and our voices, wrong. I believe our voices and opinions could lead to revolutionary changes if only they were heard, and due to this my main aim would be to provide opportunities for our views to be expressed.

Becoming a Youth MP would allow me to gain experience political affairs, an area that I believe is vital to be knowledgeable about, especially when moving into adulthood. This role would also allow me to build confidence within areas of addressing the public whilst promoting the engagement of youth within the political field. I believe that, if given this role, I would be able to represent the views of young people in Wolverhampton, giving society a chance to appreciate the views of young people and incorporating them when trying to make a difference.

The main reason for my applying to this role is my passion around the my belief that young people should be heard, and this role provides me a chance to implement my belief to a large extent. Though I am aware that representing the youth of a city is a major responsibility, I am willing to take this on as I feel that I am able to carry out the tasks required of this role to the best of my ability.

There are many reasons, I want to take up this role as a youth MP. I have a passion for speaking out regarding the real-time issues we, the youth, hold concern for and face, and through this opportunity, I would like to take action and push for change. As a youth, I understand many of us are unable to find a voice and advocate for a shift in policies. I have the ability to confidently speak in public, debate competently and listen to others attentively.

I hold value to the issues that my peers value; issues regarding our safety and education, our environment and the effects current policies have on us. I want to lend my voice to those who do not have a voice and are unable to be heard; encourage those who want to speak out themselves.

Voting for me will enable many young voices, like yours, to be heard. With your support, and the skills I have had the privilege to develop in the past, I will try to convey your message and represent us in the best way possible. Together we will make a difference in our lives. We are the future of our Country. Of our world. Why not start now? Help me help you. Let's make a change

We are the future of this world. We will inherit this land when those who came before us are gone. But when the inevitable happens, and we continue what our predecessors started, we need to know what to do. I propose more practical learning and less theoretical lessons, as a means for us to know what to do, what we could do when there’s no one to do it for us. I propose we teach life skills to students, from the start of Secondary School.

Our predecessors also left us with a broken world, that we need to fix. I’m speaking of course about Climate Change. I propose that we employ every viable strategy possible in order to greatly reduce carbon emissions. What could you or your school do to reduce damage on the environment? And now onto a taboo subject, but still an important issue that must be addressed. Suicide and mental health issues. Last year alone, 21 people in Wolverhampton (ages 11-18) sadly decided to end their lives. Less than 75 years ago, suicide was seen as an act of cowardice, and people with mental health issues were put into asylums.

We need to address mental health issues. We must teach students about these conditions, how to help people suffering from them, and to seek help when we ourselves are suffering from them. I am William Gosnell, and I believe that the best way to help us in the future is to help us now.

Hello, I would like to stand I am a good listener I am I good at debating I am strongly wanting to change climate change I want to change the mess that adults wouldn't change make life cleaner I want to make UK a better place if you vote me Together I make UK and Wolverhampton a better place and I would be a good candidate so please vote for me thankyou