Hull’s Guildhall will once again be a hub of democracy for young people today (7 March) at this year’s UK Youth Parliament elections.
The UK Youth Parliament gives young people from all over the country the opportunity to represent their local area on a national scale.
Councillor Peter Clark, portfolio holder for learning, skills and safeguarding children, said: “The UK Youth Parliament gives our city’s young people a platform to have a voice, both nationally and regionally, on the issues that affect them.”
The Hull Young People’s Parliament takes on and supports campaigns that are voted for through the UK Youth Parliament, as well creating and delivering their own campaigns.
One example of this is the KAT Card – a discounted travel card for students under the age of 19.
The KAT Hull Card gives young people the freedom and flexibility to travel across Hull and parts of the East Riding for just £10 a week.
The card was created after members of Hull’s Young People’s Parliament met with local bus companies to put forward a proposal on how they could work together to reduce the cost of bus travel for young people across the city.
Following discussions, it was agreed that the council, Stagecoach and EYMS would jointly fund the youth travel card.
Any action agreed at the Young People’s Parliament is then forwarded to decision makers, such as city councillors, Hull MPs, heads of council services and local authority partners to be implemented with feedback to the Youth Parliament at a future session.
