Youngsters in Kington are getting political this week as Herefordshire Council’s youth centre joins forces with Lady Hawkins’ High School to host a day of lively debate during local democracy week.
Their views will be heard by Herefordshire’s Youth MP, Becky Howson who will represent Kington’s young people at a historic UK Youth Parliament debate in the House of Commons on 30th October.
Each year group at Lady Hawkins High School will get involved and topics will cover a wide range of subjects from climate change to providing better activities for young people to do.
For example, there will be a detailed discussion around whether the government should invest more in green energy at the expense of nuclear power. A negative image of young people in the national media is reported to have led to a wider divide between generations so media representation of young people will be up for discussion.
Whether young people should be given more good quality activities to participate in, and whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 will be under the spotlight and pupils will be asked for their thoughts on the distribution of the educational maintenance allowance.
Emma Hancocks, an events management student on placement at Kington Youth Centre is working with Lady Hawkins school council to make sure that all groups of young people are represented during the day’s discussions.
Mini debates will take place in tutor groups culminating in a slightly more formal debate at the youth centre in the afternoon on Wednesday October 14th which local councillors and the county’s UK Youth MP have been invited to.
Pat Hayes, senior youth worker at Herefordshire Council, said: “We want young people to understand that their views count – they are the country’s future and need to know how to influence major decisions that may affect them and others.
“Having some fun in school and encouraging exploration of some key issues that affect young people is good way of helping them understand how a democratic society works.”