How much do you know about the Youth Parliament?Officially formed in 2000, The United Kingdom Youth Parliament now has over 600 elected MYPs (Members of Youth Parliament) aged 11-18 across the UK. You will find out more about the UKYP on this page! |
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What is the UK Youth Parliament?The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) is a youth organisation which enables young people to use their energy and passion to change the world for the better. Run by young people for young people, UKYP gives the young people of the UK, between the age of 11 and 18 a voice, which is heard and listened to by local and national government, providers of services for young people and other agencies who have an interest in the views and needs of young people.The UKYP is an apolitical organisation, with support from all main parties in the UK. UKYP timeline1998 – Andrew Rowe MP presents a ten minute rule bill to the House of Commons calling for the creation of a Youth Parliament1999-2001 - UK Youth Parliament launched at the House of Commons and first national sitting held in London 2004 – 90% of Local Authorities sign up to UK Youth Parliament 2005 – UK Youth Parliament works internationally to establish Youth Parliaments worldwide 2007 – PM announces intention to have Members of Youth Parliament sit in House of Commons chamber 2008 – Record voting turnout, as over half a million young people hit the ballot boxes to vote for their Members of Youth Parliament 2008 – Government announce sex and relationships education to become statutory as a direct result of UK Youth Parliament campaign 2009 – First UK Youth Parliament awards ceremony held in Parliament 2009 – MPs vote to allow Members of Youth Parliament to sit in House of Commons chamber 2010 – Ten year anniversary celebration 2010 - UKYP's Annual Sitting at the University of Ulster, NI 2010 – MPs vote 499 - 21 to allow Members of Youth Parliament to sit in House of Commons chamber every year for the life of this Parliament 2010 - UKYP entered the House of Commons chamber for the second time in history to debate on issues which young people are passionate about - including university, transport, job opportunities, war and sex education. 2011 - UKYP's Annual Sitting at the University of Leeds, England 2011 - UKYP entered the House of Commons chamber for the third time in history to debate on issues which young people are passionate about - including transport, university tuition fees, child poverty, bullying in schools and a greener Britain |
 Current UKYP Campaigns (Up until 2011)The three main UKYP campaigns are:
> Get on boardCheaper bus fares for young people The UK Youth Parliament believes that young people should pay no more than ½ adult fare on buses. There is currently no consistency in fares for young people across the country, which is unfair, socially excluding and leading to a culture of car dependency. We want a national minimum fare for all young people aged 18, so that transport is no longer a barrier to our freedom and independence. > Free for all  Scrap University tuition fees The UK Youth Parliament believes that all young people across the UK should have access to university education, regardless of their wealth or socio-economic class. Higher Education should be a right of every citizen in the UK, the Government should realise this right by removing financial barriers which are currently stopping young people from meeting their aspirations. > Think inside the box  Political Education for all The UK Youth Parliament believes Political Education should be a compulsory part of the primary and secondary curriculum. The absence of this education has caused an apathy towards politics, a lack of understanding of what politics really means and low voter turnouts in young people- this needs to change. We are campaigning for compulsory political education taught in both primary and secondary education, ages 5 to 14, with a then optional GCSE/standard grade available to all students. Find out more about the UKYP on their official website. |
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