Grads get their voices heard in Westminster

Seven Kings Grads Sarah and Sukaina got an insight into the heady heights of Westminster on Monday 1st March when they attended a ‘Celebrating Youth Voice’ event hosted by the Department for Education.

The event was part of the Shine Campaign to celebrate the talents and contributions of young people from across the UK. 

The Grads met Dawn Butler, Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement, and got to tell her their thoughts on how to improve youth citizenship and how young people could be inspired and empowered to make a difference in their communities.

Sarah and Sukaina also met other young people from the UK Youth Parliament, MyPLace, Youth of Today and Media-box and shared their experiences of running their campaigns on poverty, fair-trade, gun and knife crime and sustainable development in a Q&A session and a ‘marketplace’ stall.

Sukaina said, “It’s so inspiring to see that there are other young people who want to make a difference, who want to help out and influence people just like us.”

The Grads were awarded with a certificate and a £20 voucher to recognise their contribution as activists within their community.

They also said they were looking forward to getting involved with more debates and workshops, and being able to make their mark this year by voting in the forthcoming General Election.  They said “We’re gonna vote, because it’s an important privilege for us as youth to get to vote and get our voices heard.

If you want to hear more about opportunities for Grads to influence politicians and keep making a difference, e-mail anneka@envision.org.uk.