The Hackney Youth Parliament elections will be taking place in just under four weeks, and young people in the borough are invited to come along to meet the candidates at the hustings on Thursday 23 September, 5pm to 7pm, at Hackney Town Hall.

Hackney Youth Parliament gives young people the platform to influence local policy and decision making, also the opportunity to use their passion and energy to represent the views of their peers on current issues.

The hustings are a great opportunity to meet the candidates before the elections, to question them about their campaigns and hear about the changes they want to see and how they plan to make them happen.

The elections are the highlight of an exciting series of events to mark Local Democracy Week (13-19 October). Voting will take place at secondary schools, colleges and youth clubs across the borough between 11 and 14 October. Young people aged 11 to 19, who live, study or work in the borough, can vote for up to five candidates in their area.

Hackney’s two purple buses will also be utilised as mobile polling stations and will be visiting the four neighbourhood areas during the elections.

The successful candidates will be announced at the Youth Democracy Fair event at Hackney Town Hall on 15 October, which will offer a range of stalls, workshops and other activities to all secondary school students in the borough.

The Hackney Youth Parliament hustings are on Thursday 23 September, 5pm to 7pm, at Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, E8 1EA. Places are limited.

For more information please call Mandy Richards on 07527 385680 or Nazia Gofur on 07528 966522.