Young people take campaign to Houses of Parliament

Young people from Darlington YMCA represented Sedgefield and Stockton youth volunteering projects, at the Youth Justice in Action event which took place in London in June.

The event brought together young people from around the world to talk about youth justice issues and culminated in a lobby of Parliament where the young people got the opportunity to speak to their MPs (Members of Parliament) about their concerns.

The group of young people from Darlington YMCA were so motivated by what they had seen and heard in London that they began planning what needed to be done in their local areas.

They wrote to their local MPs and arranged meetings with them. In Stockton, the young people discussed their ideas with their MP and have started meeting with the local press. They are planning to create a workshop about youth justice issues to tour round local primary schools.

In Sedgefield, the young people have built a good relationship with their local MP, Phil Wilson, and are leading a project to develop a regional forum about youth issues. Two young people from the group recently had the opportunity to discuss their ideas with The Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. Grant Parker and Georgia Howe, from Newton Aycliffe, attended a reception at Downing Street to acknowledge the contribution of young people in their local communities.

Phil Wilson said: “Grant and Georgia came to see me to say they wanted to change the impression some people have, that young people cause nothing but trouble. They have made a good start and prove what we already know, that the vast majority of young people want to make a positive contribution to their community.”

Georgia said: “Newton Aycliffe is a very special place to live. I was really surprised to be invited to meet the Prime Minister, but I’m really pleased the work young people do in the community is acknowledged by the Government.”