Youth Parliament hopefuls hit the campaign trail
From manifestos covering everything from education to travel issues, this year's Hackney Youth Parliament campaigns are all about ensuring the empowerment, saftey, happiness and wellbeing of all Hackney teens.
Campaigning is getting under way as young people from across the borough bid to form the next Hackney Youth Parliament.
Over forty candidates are standing for election and will be canvassing over the next weeks in youth clubs and schools.
Over the past two years, Youth Parliament members have consulted extensively with young people and put forward their views and concerns to council officers and Councillors.Previous Youth Parliaments in Hackney have created campaigns to tackle stereotypes and to raise awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation. They even helped to create the UFest Festival of Youth Arts in the Queen Elizabeth Park, the first of its kind.
Voting takes place in schools and youth centres with results announced on 20 October, after a question and answer session with Councillors at Young Hackney Forest Road.
As part of Local Democracy Week, candidates will be presenting their manifesto statements at two hustings events:
Hackney South candidates
Forest Road Youth Hub
Monday 10 October 5.00pm-7.30pm
Hackney North candidates
The Edge Youth Hub, Woodberry DownWednesday
21 October 5.00pm-7.30pm
Both hustings events are open to the public, but places are limited, please contact Seana.murphy@hackney.gov.uk or Yasser.hussain@hackney.gov.uk to confirm attendance.
More information on Young Hackney, including candidate statements for this year's Youth Parliament elections can be found at: www.younghackney.org/get-involved.