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Young Politicians make history in Northern Ireland

July 2010

Photographs members the Youth Parliament at Stormont. Photography by Dermot MacGreevy.

 

 

 

 

 

Over 300 Members of Youth Parliament from across the UK gathered in Belfast last weekend. For the first time in its history, the UK Youth Parliament held its annual sitting in Northern Ireland. The four day event saw debates on the environment, health, crime and education. Other issues included lowering the voting age to 16, and transport provision for young people. Ealing's members of UK Youth Parliament, Allaan Heewa, 14 years-old, and Imaan Jan, 12 years-old, both attended the event.

 

As part of the sitting, the 11-18 year-olds visited Stormont and were addressed by Francie Molloy, Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and were also addressed by a number of high profile speakers, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Charles Hendry, and Robin Newton, Junior Minister within the Office of First and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland. Guests at the Sitting were also given a guided tour of Belfast by coach, and made a historic visit to Stormont Castle, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

 

Gemma Benton, from the Participation Team in Youth and Connexions, commented,

"The UK Youth Parliament is a fantastic way for the views of young people in the Borough to get heard on a national level. The UK Youth Parliament members in the Borough have links with the Ealing Youth Mayor and the Borough's youth forum, Ealing Youth Action, so young people's voices in Ealing are being heard on a local, Borough-wide and national level. This year the Annual Sitting was a big success; the young people and staff both had engaging programmes, and Allaan and Imaan did Ealing proud!"

 

Allaan Heewa, 14 years-old, Member of Youth Parliament for Ealing, commented,

"The UKYP Annual Sitting was a once in a lifetime experience with inspirational and motivational speakers, as well as practical meetings giving us the tools to tackle our issues."