Young people across the East Riding who want to make a positive change in the area they live and be a voice for young people are being invited to stand as candidates for election to the UK Youth Parliament.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council, working in partnership with Community VISION (formerly East Riding Voluntary Action Services or ERVAS), are looking for any young person between the age of 11 and 18, who lives, works, studies or volunteers in the East Riding to consider putting themselves forward for nomination.
Elections for the UK Youth Parliament take place every two years and these elections will see the current East Riding members of youth parliament, Aonpreeya Petchatchua and Freya Edwards come to the end of their term of office.
Those who nominate themselves will write their own manifesto outlining what they would like to change for the better, and then go on the campaign trail early in the New Year to secure the votes which will see them elected as a member of the UK Youth Parliament.
Those who are elected will then become the East Riding members of the UK Youth Parliament and get to sit in the Houses of Parliament in Westminster and vote on issues that are important to young people and help make a positive change for everyone.
Help and support will be available from Community VISION and those who register an interest in standing for election will be contacted directly to talk about the process further.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education at East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "The UK Youth Parliament is not only a great way for young people across the East Riding to use their elected voice to raise issues that are important to the East Riding but also to introduce them to the democratic process.
"It is also a great opportunity for a young person from the East Riding to represent us on a national level.
"Anyone in the East Riding aged between 11 and 18 can nominate themselves - they can be in mainstream or specialist education, in a post-16 provision or home educated - anyone can put themselves forward.
"I would encourage everyone to think about how they can use their energy and passion to bring about change and consider putting themselves forward as a candidate.
Detty Tyler, children and young people's services co-ordinator at Community VISION, said: "Youth Parliament is a fantastic opportunity for young people in East Riding to have their voices heard at a national level and to really make a difference for all young people in East Riding.
"Those who are interested in standing as candidates will be supported throughout the process - they won't be left on their own so if anyone has any questions or queries, I'd urge them to get in touch to find out more."
* The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Wednesday, 6 December 2024 with elections taking place within educational settings w/c 29 January and a declaration event being held on Thursday, 7 March 2024 at Beverley Memorial Hall
More information about the nomination process, standing as a candidate and the application form can be found at eryc.link/youth-parliament or alternatively by contacting Detty Tyler, children and young people's services co-ordinator at Community VISION by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information on the British Youth Council or UK Youth Parliament go to https://www.byc.org.uk/uk/uk-youth-parliament
