Huge congratulations to Maheep Kaur of Ark Charter Academy for winning the 2024 Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) elections. MYPs attend events such as national debates, government consultations, training days and planning events whey they amplify the voices of young constituents from their local areas.
.
Each year, around 300 MYPs from across the country meet in the Houses of Commons to debate issues that affect young people, deciding on the national campaign for that year.
Unusually, Portsmouth also has a Youth Cabinet, led by the MYP, which seeks to represent the views of all young people in the city and work with decision makers to drive positive change. Funded by Portsmouth City Council, this initiative has gone from strength to strength.
.
Front row: Talia Isbell, previous MYP for Portsmouth, Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cllr Tom Coles, Maheep Kaur, new MYP for Portsmouth, Lady Mayoress of Portsmouth Mrs Nikki Coles, & Jo Morgan from Engendering Change
.
Jo Morgan from Engendering Change, runs the Youth Cabinet, Jo said:
“It has been such a joy to facilitate the power of youth voice to embed meaningful and lasting change in Portsmouth. Their work with asylum seeking children, LGBTQ young people and youth groups across the city has shown the incredible things that can happen when young people are empowered to connect with the community.”
/
Their most recent project with Shaping Portsmouth, to create part-time job opportunities for teenagers has the potential to be transformative. Maheep stood against 3 other excellent candidates, all of whom will continue to work with the Youth Cabinet to drive positive change for young people in the city.
.
Our victorious MYP election winner Maheep said:
“I want to make change happen and the MYP elections are a great opportunity for young people to have a chance to push that change. It has been an amazing experience to be a part of these elections. Teenagers often get a bad name, but we have proven how much good we can bring to the community. I will use my position to advocate for young people who do not have a voice, particularly those struggling at home or school and those suffering with mental health issues.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has been part of it and supported me for election! I’d love to give special thanks to my campaign team, my family and friends, teachers and schoolmates at Charter, all the youth cabinet and my peers. I promise to do my best and make the most out of my position.”
.
.
Cllr Suzy Horton, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for children, families and education, has championed the Youth Cabinet since its inception and been hugely supportive. Suzy said:
“We want our Youth Cabinet, working alongside the Member of Youth Parliament, to be an authentic voice of young people in shaping their experiences in the city through the work of the council and other decision makers. I have been both impressed and humbled by what this current Youth Cabinet has achieved in taking the big conversations around equalities, the environment and the world of work to the people with power. Huge congratulations to Maheep who will be a brilliant MYP’
