Young changemakers needed for revamped Hackney Youth Parliament
Young people with a passion for making a difference in their community are being urged to sign up to Hackney Youth Parliament (HYP) ahead of elections in Spring 2021.
Under the brand new format there will be six elected young leaders with opportunities for 60 more young people to take part in the HYP work. The group will be given a budget to work with and will help call the shots on how services for young people are delivered in Hackney.
Members of the youth parliament will learn what it means to take part in a democratic system, to advocate for your communities and push for positive change on issues such as climate change, systemic racism and mental health.
“Hackney is full of passionate, young people who can make a real impact in the borough on our youth parliament programme.
“During these challenging times it is more important than ever that young people’s voices are heard in order to shape local and national policy.
“There are a huge number of opportunities available, and we want to hear from young people from all backgrounds so that every part of our community is given a voice.
“The youth parliament has made a huge difference to youth services in Hackney and offers some fantastic opportunities for its members, as well as being a fun experience to be part of.”
Successful candidates will be expected to find out the concerns and needs of other young people in Hackney, and represent these views to decision-makers on a local level.
During their term in office, members will have the opportunity to get involved in a variety of events, projects and campaigns, as well as working with the Mayor of Hackney and attending Council meetings.
There will be a residential this summer, for members to get to know their fellow young parliamentarians, as well as other trips organised by HYP (dependent on lockdown measures).
Those interested must be a young person who is a resident or attends a school in Hackney, aged between 14 and 19 years old or up to 25 years old with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The Council is encouraging those who are underrepresented in our current cohort to apply, including young men, members of the LGBTQ+ community and members of the Jewish, Turkish and Kurdish communities.
If elected, terms in office would end in October 2023, with members committing at least three hours per month on HYP activities.
Interested young people can get inspired by watching our video.
Young people can get involved by registering interest here and the team will respond as soon as possible. Any questions can be directed to Nana Adae-Amoakoh at nana.adae-amoakoh@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 8555.