Students from Ashton Sixth Form College joined the biggest youth consultation in Europe. 

They contributed to the 'Make your mark' campaign which gave young people aged 11-18 the opportunity to decide what the Members of the Youth Parliament debate in November within the House of Commons. 

For the vote, students were able to choose one issue from a list of ten. The issues included:

• Mental Health – Devolved Mental health services should be improved with young people’s help; and should be available in schools.
• End Period Poverty – Devolved Sanitary products are an essential item. The Government and the NHS should make them free and accessible for all who need it.
• Votes at 16 – UK Give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in all elections/referendums.
• Put an end to Knife crime – Devolved Too many young people’s lives are lost to knife crime; the Government need to do more to help end the knife crime epidemic.
• A curriculum to prepare us for life – Devolved Schools should cover topics like finance, sex and relationship education and politics.
• Support Youth Services – Devolved Youth services help young people but in recent years they have been cut. Youth services need better financial support and security.
• Equal Pay for Equal work – Devolved Give young people the same amount of pay, if they are doing the same work as adults in the same job.
• Let’s tackle Homelessness – Devolved Every person should have a place to live and the opportunity to live comfortably. Let’s make it happen and put a stop to homelessness.
• Transport – Devolved Make public transport cheaper, better and accessible for all.
• Welcome Refugees – UK Everyone deserves the right to live without fear of death and persecution so we believe that refugees should be welcomed into communities in the UK.

   

Students had the chance to vote online or by paper ballot. These ballots were then collected and counted by the Tameside Youth Council which will then be added to the national vote. The issue with the most votes will then become the UK Youth Parliament campaign for 2019. 

The results of the vote will be announced on the 25th October. 

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Photos courtesy of Melissa Hopwood on Twitter.