Hackney Youth Parliament 2010 - election results day

Young people are being given the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Hackney’s “singing politician” Jermain Jackman, as nominations for Hackney Youth Parliament open.

Jermain – who recently won BBC 1 talent show The Voice – was an active member of Hackney Youth Parliament, which was where he discovered his passion for politics.

HYP is made up of 24 elected representatives, aged 11-19, who care about the borough and want to speak on behalf of their peers. Voting take place at schools and Young Hackney centres in October – at the last election in 2012, more than 6,000 young people cast their vote.

Jermain, 19, who was a member of HYP from 2010-12, urged young people to get involved: “I started my journey with HYP in 2010. If you want to change things you have to listen, you have to act, you have to take part!”

As a member of HYP, Jermain worked  to improve relations between young people and the Police and worked with the architects behind the five Young Hackney centres to make sure their design reflected what young people wanted.

The Parliament consults young people on their views, makes sure their voices are heard and keeps them up-to-date on issues that affect them. They also plan youth and community events, elect representatives to the national UK Youth Parliament and attend regional and national events. Young people can vote according to the area they live or go to school in.  

Young people who put themselves forward will be required to attend a training session over the summer holiday to help them prepare their manifesto. If elected they will attend fortnightly meetings at the Council’s Forest Road Young Hackney Centre.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Hackney is full of really passionate young people who want to make a difference, and this is the perfect opportunity for them to get involved in the decisions we make as a council.

“This isn’t playing at politics; our youth parliament has real influence and I’m looking forward to working with the new members who will be representing the young people of Hackney.”