Youth Parliament members elected for Warrington

THE new members of the Youth Parliament who will be giving a voice to young people in Warrington, have been elected.
A borough-wide vote, that was open to all young people, has resulted in Devon Warburton being elected as MYP and Leia–Rose Mills as deputy MYP,
They will each l serve a term of two years in their new roles.
MYPs and deputies are elected every two years by other young people in their local area. Their role is to give young people a platform – listening to marginalised groups, organising events, making films, meeting local decision makers, lobbying for change, organising campaigns and appearing in the media – to amplify the views of their peers and to get young people’s voices heard.
During their term of office they will work with local MPs, councillors, decision-makers, IMPACT – Warrington’s Youth Council and other local young people and youth groups on the issues of greatest concern to their constituents.
Devon says she is most excited about meeting the young people of Warrington, being able to listen to what they have to say and helping to make sure the right support is available when they need it.
Leia-Rose says she is most excited about being able to represent so many young people and having the chance to change lives by making sure young people are being heard.
Cllr Sarah Hall, cabinet member for children’s services at Warrington Borough Council, said: “Young people like Devon and Leia-Rose represent a bright future for our young people with their commitment to democracy and political engagement. It’s brilliant to hear so many young people in Warrington are getting involved and having a say on real issues that affect them as part of IMPACT – they are making a real difference.”
As well as voting for their MYP and Deputy MYP young people were also asked to take part in the national Make your Mark campaign and vote on a number of issues they feel are important to them. The national results will be used by the British Youth Council and local results used as the MYP’s manifesto in Warrington
The local results in priority order are jobs, money, homes and opportunities, health and wellbeing, education and learning, environment, poverty, our rights, our democracy and the COVID recovery.
Their appointment comes at a crucial time as the town and the world emerges from the last two years of a pandemic that affected children and young people, perhaps more than most. They have faced repeated lockdowns and home-schooling that took them away from their friends as well as their classrooms, and also the threat to democracy being experienced by the people of Ukraine.