Hackney,
18
September
2014
|
11:49
Europe/London

Budding young politicians hit the campaign trail

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Campaigning is getting under way as budding young politicians bid to form the next Hackney Youth Parliament.

Dozens of candidates from across the borough are on the campaign trail, in the hope that they will be one of the 24 chosen by their peers to represent the views of young people in Hackney.

Manifesto booklets and leaflets will soon be available through youth clubs, schools and at www.younghackney.org, and candidates will be taking part in a hustings event at Hackney Town Hall. Voting is open to young people aged 8-19 who live or go to school in Hackney.

At the last Hackney Youth Parliament election in 2012, 6,500 young people voted. The successful candidates have had a busy year, consulting with young people to find out their views, being involved in decision-making at the Council, feeding back young peoples’ views and concerns to council officers and councillors, representing Hackney at London-wide and national events and running campaigns on youth issues.

Voting will take place in schools and Young Hackney centres on 6-14 October. Results will be announced on 15 October, after a Q&A session with the Mayor at Young Hackney Forest Road.

To help young people decide who they want to represent them, two hustings events have been organised. The first, on 25 September, will see those standing in the north of the borough present their manifestos. Those standing in the south will present on the following day, 26 September. Both events will be held from 6-9.30pm.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Cabinet Member for Children's Services
This is a really exciting – but also very daunting – time for our young politicians. They’ve spent a long time drafting their manifestos and thinking about what they could bring to the young people of Hackney, but this is the time that really matters. The Youth Parliament elections engage young people in politics and the area they live in. I look forward to some lively debates and another strong turn out during election week.
Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Cabinet Member for Children's Services

Find out more about Hackney Youth Parliament at www.younghackney.org.uk