UK Youth Parliament in Suffolk olk Candidate Pack
Transcript of UK Youth Parliament in Suffolk olk Candidate Pack
pg. 1
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UK Youth Parliament in Suffolk
If you would like to apply to stand as a
member of the UK Youth Parliament in
Suffolk, you will find out everything you
need to know in this booklet.
pg. 2
Essential Information
What is UKYP?
UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) is run by young people for young people. There are hundreds of MYPs across the UK that represent the views of young people in their local communities. By acting together, UKYP gives young people a powerful voice that is heard by decision makers in local and national government and helps young people to use their energy and passion to change the world for the better.
Why is UKYP important?
Our current MYPs have worked closely with Suffolk County Council officers and Councillors to improve services for young people in Suffolk. Over the last 2 years our MYPs have worked hard to improve public transport which has led to the introduction of the ‘Endeavour Card’. UKYP Suffolk is also striving to make changes to the curriculum taught in schools in Suffolk so that it includes essential life skills such as; money and finance, mental health education and cultural awareness and it delivers a ‘curriculum to prepare us for life’
Here in Suffolk, MYPs work hard to find out what is most important to young people. In 2013, over 3’800 young people voted in the Make Your Mark vote telling us that better work experience, combating youth unemployment, better ‘life’ Education, mental health education, zero tolerance to bullying and Euthanasia are important issues for young people in Suffolk.
Each year our MYPs also work hard to promote the UKYP national campaigns in our local county- Suffolk. This year there are two campaigns and our MYPs have worked hard develop the ‘Curriculum for Life’ campaign to improve citizenship in schools. The other national campaign in 2014 will be ‘Votes for 16 and 17
year olds in all elections’.
Suffolk has eight Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) who are elected for a 2 year term. Each MYP has a responsibility for representing the views of young people from a particular area of Suffolk, we call this their constituency. Each MYP has the same constituency as their local Member of Parliament (MP) with whom they can work closely with. MYPs are elected by young people from across Suffolk. Young people can vote online for free for their chosen candidate. The 8 MYPs share 4 votes nationally. These votes are used to make decisions regionally and nationally such as deciding what campaigns the UKYP should run and selecting representatives for committee groups.
Important Dates:
Applications open 10th February
2014
Applications close 2nd March 2014
Voting Opens 10th March 2014
Voting Closes 21st March
2014
Election results 24th March
2014
Term of office
starts
1st April 2014
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How do I get involved?
Connect with your MYP
Once elected, the MYPs will use social
media such as Facebook and Twitter
to keep in contact with young people
in Suffolk and to generate support for
campaigns.
Visit our Facebook page for more
information about the different ways
you can connect with your MYP:
www.facebook.com/suffolkukyp
@SuffolkUKYP
Support campaigns
&activities
In a democracy everyone’s views are
important. It’s not just about having a
vote, but what happens after the vote
that really matters. Tell your MYP
what you think should be done in
your area and find out how you can
help.
You don’t have to be an MYP to take
part in UKYP campaigns and activities.
Many MYPs organise local events for
young people to take part in or hold
joint surgeries with their MP.
There are several ways you can get involved with UKYP.
Stand for election
To become a MYP you must stand for election. If you are interested in
standing for election you need to complete a candidate form. You can
complete this online by visiting:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/GGLHHSD
A paper version of the candidate form is also included at the end of
this document.
The closing date for submitting your completed candidate form is
5.00pm on Sunday 2nd March 2014.
After you have submitted your form, we will email you to confirm
that we have received it.
From the 3rd March will contact you to let you know whether you
have been successful or not to stand in the election. You will be
emailed a consent form which we will need your parent or carer to
complete and return to us, along with the code of conduct,
expectations and further details.
You will then be invited to submit a written manifesto and/or a
campaign video outlining your manifesto (issues which you want to
work on). This must be received via email on a single side of A4 paper,
or a video manifesto of no more than 2 minutes. This must be
received no later than 5pm on Sunday 9th March.
Vote for your MYP
If you are aged between 11 and 18 years old you have the right to
vote for your preferred candidate to become your MYP in the 2014
UKYP elections.
The elections will take place during the week beginning 10th March
2014. You will be able to vote for free for your preferred candidate.
There will be 1 Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) & 1 Deputy Member of
Youth Parliament (DMYP) elected from the following constituencies:
Bury St. Edmunds (1). Central Suffolk (2.) South Suffolk (4.) Suffolk Coastal
(5). Waveney (6) and West Suffolk (7).
There will be 2 MYPs & DMYPs elected in Ipswich including North Ipswich
(3).
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What do MYPs do?
MYPs will be required to do the following:
Meet on a monthly basis in Ipswich - meetings
are generally held on the weekend, where you
will agree actions and report back
Attend regional meetings with MYPs from
other counties – approximately 3 meetings are
held each year and they generally take place
during the weekend in London.
Keep in contact with young people in their
constituency and represent their views at a
variety of meetings and forums.
Campaign on issues that young people feel are
important and county-wide campaigns, we call
these our local priorities
Work closely with Suffolk County Council and
contribute to local decision making processes,
attend Suffolk Assembly of Youth (SAY)
meetings.
Actively work on the national campaigns
Promote the good work of UKYP by submitting
monthly positive story reports.
In addition, 4 MYPs will be able to:
• Attend UKYP’s Annual Sitting, where MYPs
from across the UK come together to discuss
topical issues, celebrate their achievements and
develop a list of issues that they want to
campaign on we call this the national UKYP
manifesto.
• Attend a debate in the House of Commons
which is chaired by the Speaker, John Bercow.
MYPs will debate and vote on key topics and
decide their national campaigns for the year.
The national campaign for 2014 is votes for 16
and 17 year olds in all elections and a curriculum
to prepare us for life.
MYP’s have the responsibility to uphold the
following ideas and principles:
• The UKYP is an independent national body,
which seeks to represent no party political view.
• The discussions of the UKYP are to be solely
issue based.
• The UKYP will ensure that the young people of
the UK are given a voice on any issue that affects
them as laid out in Article 12 of the UNCRC, as
long as it does not affect the rights of others.
• The UKYP will respect the issues as laid in the
UNCRC, to ensure that every young person who
participates in the work of UKYP has his/her
rights respected and protected.
• Any young person up to and including the age of
18, has the right to have his/her view heard and
listened to by the UKYP.
As elected MYPs, their duty is towards:
• The young people who voted for them.
• The young people who didn’t vote for them.
• Every young person in their constituency.
Member of
Suffolk UKYP
speaking for
the lowering
of tuition
fees at the
UKYP Annual
Sitting
weekend.
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What support is available to MYPs?
Next Steps
Next
The UKYP in Suffolk is managed and coordinated by
Community Action Suffolk. Amber Spearing, Suffolk
UKYP Support worker will support the MYPs during
their 2 year term.
Once elected, MYPs will attend an induction day
where they will learn more about the UKYP and their
role as a MYP.
MYPs will also receive training on a range of areas
which will support them to carry out their role such as:
• Public speaking
• Chairing meetings
• Using social media
• Campaigning
In addition to your MYP role you will have the
opportunity to undertake an accredited qualification
provided by Suffolk County Council.
If you are interested in standing for election
please complete an online candidate form
online by visiting:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GGLHHSD
Or you can complete and return the paper
version at the end of this document.
‘Being an MYP is one of the best things that has
ever happened to me and it gives me a real buzz –
representing the voice of young people in my
constituency. Before joining UKYP, I never had a
clue what “being the voice of young people” meant,
but 2 years odd down the line, I now love
representing young people in my area! I have got to
do a few cool things in my time being an MYP such
as attending a scrutiny group meeting on behalf
people with disabilities; I sat in the House of
Commons and debated alongside all the other
members of UKYP. I would recommend any young
person to take up this role because not only would
they enjoy it, they would make new friends along
the way and they would meet some pretty
important people too’. Lewis, MYP for Ipswich- 18
‘In the two years I have been a Member of Youth
Parliament (MYP) for Suffolk, it has given me some
great opportunities to discover more about how
our country really works. From spending a day
debating in the House of Commons, presided over
by the speaker to taking part in a conference at the
council headquarters, the Youth Parliament really
gives you a chance to have your say. Not only are
there national campaigns which you can get
involved in, but you also have the opportunity to
start your own. It allows you to learn, develop new
skills and meet likeminded young people from
across the country’. Tom, MYP for Ipswich- 16
More information
If you have any questions about Suffolk UKYP or need help with the candidate
form please contact:
Amber Spearing, Suffolk UKYP Support Worker.
Tel: 07501 293205 Email: [email protected]
Suffolk MYP receiving his
‘Youth Voice Award from
his local MP in
Parliament
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UKYP Suffolk Candidate Application Form
Thank you for your interest in applying to stand as a member of the UK Youth Parliament in Suffolk.
Please note- This form is also available online at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/GGLHHSD
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) helps young people to use their energy and passion to change the world for the
better. Having engaged hundreds of thousands of 11-18 year olds over the last 10 years, UKYP gives the young
people of the UK a powerful voice which is heard and listened to by local and national government, providers of
services for young people and other agencies who have an interest in the views and needs of young people.
How can I become a Member of Youth Parliament?
To become a Member of UK Youth Parliament (MYP) you must stand for election. If you are interested in standing
for election you need to complete this candidate form. If you need any help completing your candidate form, or if
you have any questions, please contact Amber Spearing on 07501 293205 or email
The closing date for submitting your completed candidate form is 5.00pm on Sunday 2nd
March 2014.
After you have submitted your form, we will email you to confirm that we have received it.
From the 3rd March will contact you to let you know whether you have been successful or not to stand
in the election. You will be emailed a consent form which we will need your parent or carer to complete and
return to us, along with the code of conduct, expectations and further details.
You will then be invited to submit a written manifesto and/or a campaign video outlining your manifesto (issues
which you want to work on).
This must be received via email on a single side of A4 paper, or a video manifesto of no more than 2 minutes. This
must be received no later than 5pm on Sunday 9th March.
Fair Processing of Personal Data
The information you provide about yourself is personal data and we are collecting it so that we can involve you in
the UK Youth Parliament. We will only keep it for as long as you are involved in the UK Youth Parliament. Once you
have ended your involvement we will delete your information. We won't share your information with any third
party organisations.
Please tick here to state that you agree that we can hold your details for up to 2 years so we can contact you
regarding any by-elections and campaigns.
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Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Home telephone number:
Mobile number:
Email address
Date of Birth:
Age:
Name of school, college or workplace (we need this information so we can decide which area you can stand for election in):
Address:
Postcode: Tel number:
Your information
Why you want to become a Member of Youth Parliament
Your responses to the following questions will be used to help choose the candidate to stand for election.
Please note that your responses may be published online for others to see.
Please tell us why you think you would make a good Member of UK Youth Parliament:
pg. 8
Please tell us what difference you would like to make as a Member of Youth Parliament
Thank you for taking the time to complete this form.
Please email your completed form to: [email protected] or complete
the online version at www.surveymonkey.com/s/GGLHHSD
Alternatively you can post it to the following address so that it arrives by Saturday 1st March.
Amber Spearing
Suffolk UKYP Support Worker
The Kirkley Centre
154 London Road South
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33 0AZ
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