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UK Youth Parliament in Suffolk

If you would like to apply to stand as a

member of the UK Youth Parliament in

Suffolk, you will find out everything you

need to know in this booklet.

pg. 2

Essential Information

What is UKYP?

UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) is run by young people for young people. There are hundreds of MYPs across the UK that represent the views of young people in their local communities. By acting together, UKYP gives young people a powerful voice that is heard by decision makers in local and national government and helps young people to use their energy and passion to change the world for the better.

Why is UKYP important?

Our current MYPs have worked closely with Suffolk County Council officers and Councillors to improve services for young people in Suffolk. Over the last 2 years our MYPs have worked hard to improve public transport which has led to the introduction of the ‘Endeavour Card’. UKYP Suffolk is also striving to make changes to the curriculum taught in schools in Suffolk so that it includes essential life skills such as; money and finance, mental health education and cultural awareness and it delivers a ‘curriculum to prepare us for life’

Here in Suffolk, MYPs work hard to find out what is most important to young people. In 2013, over 3’800 young people voted in the Make Your Mark vote telling us that better work experience, combating youth unemployment, better ‘life’ Education, mental health education, zero tolerance to bullying and Euthanasia are important issues for young people in Suffolk.

Each year our MYPs also work hard to promote the UKYP national campaigns in our local county- Suffolk. This year there are two campaigns and our MYPs have worked hard develop the ‘Curriculum for Life’ campaign to improve citizenship in schools. The other national campaign in 2014 will be ‘Votes for 16 and 17

year olds in all elections’.

Suffolk has eight Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) who are elected for a 2 year term. Each MYP has a responsibility for representing the views of young people from a particular area of Suffolk, we call this their constituency. Each MYP has the same constituency as their local Member of Parliament (MP) with whom they can work closely with. MYPs are elected by young people from across Suffolk. Young people can vote online for free for their chosen candidate. The 8 MYPs share 4 votes nationally. These votes are used to make decisions regionally and nationally such as deciding what campaigns the UKYP should run and selecting representatives for committee groups.

Important Dates:

Applications open 10th February

2014

Applications close 2nd March 2014

Voting Opens 10th March 2014

Voting Closes 21st March

2014

Election results 24th March

2014

Term of office

starts

1st April 2014

pg. 3

How do I get involved?

Connect with your MYP

Once elected, the MYPs will use social

media such as Facebook and Twitter

to keep in contact with young people

in Suffolk and to generate support for

campaigns.

Visit our Facebook page for more

information about the different ways

you can connect with your MYP:

www.facebook.com/suffolkukyp

@SuffolkUKYP

Support campaigns

&activities

In a democracy everyone’s views are

important. It’s not just about having a

vote, but what happens after the vote

that really matters. Tell your MYP

what you think should be done in

your area and find out how you can

help.

You don’t have to be an MYP to take

part in UKYP campaigns and activities.

Many MYPs organise local events for

young people to take part in or hold

joint surgeries with their MP.

There are several ways you can get involved with UKYP.

Stand for election

To become a MYP you must stand for election. If you are interested in

standing for election you need to complete a candidate form. You can

complete this online by visiting:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/GGLHHSD

A paper version of the candidate form is also included at the end of

this document.

The closing date for submitting your completed candidate form is

5.00pm on Sunday 2nd March 2014.

After you have submitted your form, we will email you to confirm

that we have received it.

From the 3rd March will contact you to let you know whether you

have been successful or not to stand in the election. You will be

emailed a consent form which we will need your parent or carer to

complete and return to us, along with the code of conduct,

expectations and further details.

You will then be invited to submit a written manifesto and/or a

campaign video outlining your manifesto (issues which you want to

work on). This must be received via email on a single side of A4 paper,

or a video manifesto of no more than 2 minutes. This must be

received no later than 5pm on Sunday 9th March.

Vote for your MYP

If you are aged between 11 and 18 years old you have the right to

vote for your preferred candidate to become your MYP in the 2014

UKYP elections.

The elections will take place during the week beginning 10th March

2014. You will be able to vote for free for your preferred candidate.

There will be 1 Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) & 1 Deputy Member of

Youth Parliament (DMYP) elected from the following constituencies:

Bury St. Edmunds (1). Central Suffolk (2.) South Suffolk (4.) Suffolk Coastal

(5). Waveney (6) and West Suffolk (7).

There will be 2 MYPs & DMYPs elected in Ipswich including North Ipswich

(3).

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What do MYPs do?

MYPs will be required to do the following:

Meet on a monthly basis in Ipswich - meetings

are generally held on the weekend, where you

will agree actions and report back

Attend regional meetings with MYPs from

other counties – approximately 3 meetings are

held each year and they generally take place

during the weekend in London.

Keep in contact with young people in their

constituency and represent their views at a

variety of meetings and forums.

Campaign on issues that young people feel are

important and county-wide campaigns, we call

these our local priorities

Work closely with Suffolk County Council and

contribute to local decision making processes,

attend Suffolk Assembly of Youth (SAY)

meetings.

Actively work on the national campaigns

Promote the good work of UKYP by submitting

monthly positive story reports.

In addition, 4 MYPs will be able to:

• Attend UKYP’s Annual Sitting, where MYPs

from across the UK come together to discuss

topical issues, celebrate their achievements and

develop a list of issues that they want to

campaign on we call this the national UKYP

manifesto.

• Attend a debate in the House of Commons

which is chaired by the Speaker, John Bercow.

MYPs will debate and vote on key topics and

decide their national campaigns for the year.

The national campaign for 2014 is votes for 16

and 17 year olds in all elections and a curriculum

to prepare us for life.

MYP’s have the responsibility to uphold the

following ideas and principles:

• The UKYP is an independent national body,

which seeks to represent no party political view.

• The discussions of the UKYP are to be solely

issue based.

• The UKYP will ensure that the young people of

the UK are given a voice on any issue that affects

them as laid out in Article 12 of the UNCRC, as

long as it does not affect the rights of others.

• The UKYP will respect the issues as laid in the

UNCRC, to ensure that every young person who

participates in the work of UKYP has his/her

rights respected and protected.

• Any young person up to and including the age of

18, has the right to have his/her view heard and

listened to by the UKYP.

As elected MYPs, their duty is towards:

• The young people who voted for them.

• The young people who didn’t vote for them.

• Every young person in their constituency.

Member of

Suffolk UKYP

speaking for

the lowering

of tuition

fees at the

UKYP Annual

Sitting

weekend.

pg. 5

What support is available to MYPs?

Next Steps

Next

The UKYP in Suffolk is managed and coordinated by

Community Action Suffolk. Amber Spearing, Suffolk

UKYP Support worker will support the MYPs during

their 2 year term.

Once elected, MYPs will attend an induction day

where they will learn more about the UKYP and their

role as a MYP.

MYPs will also receive training on a range of areas

which will support them to carry out their role such as:

• Public speaking

• Chairing meetings

• Using social media

• Campaigning

In addition to your MYP role you will have the

opportunity to undertake an accredited qualification

provided by Suffolk County Council.

If you are interested in standing for election

please complete an online candidate form

online by visiting:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GGLHHSD

Or you can complete and return the paper

version at the end of this document.

‘Being an MYP is one of the best things that has

ever happened to me and it gives me a real buzz –

representing the voice of young people in my

constituency. Before joining UKYP, I never had a

clue what “being the voice of young people” meant,

but 2 years odd down the line, I now love

representing young people in my area! I have got to

do a few cool things in my time being an MYP such

as attending a scrutiny group meeting on behalf

people with disabilities; I sat in the House of

Commons and debated alongside all the other

members of UKYP. I would recommend any young

person to take up this role because not only would

they enjoy it, they would make new friends along

the way and they would meet some pretty

important people too’. Lewis, MYP for Ipswich- 18

‘In the two years I have been a Member of Youth

Parliament (MYP) for Suffolk, it has given me some

great opportunities to discover more about how

our country really works. From spending a day

debating in the House of Commons, presided over

by the speaker to taking part in a conference at the

council headquarters, the Youth Parliament really

gives you a chance to have your say. Not only are

there national campaigns which you can get

involved in, but you also have the opportunity to

start your own. It allows you to learn, develop new

skills and meet likeminded young people from

across the country’. Tom, MYP for Ipswich- 16

More information

If you have any questions about Suffolk UKYP or need help with the candidate

form please contact:

Amber Spearing, Suffolk UKYP Support Worker.

Tel: 07501 293205 Email: amber.spearing@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk

Suffolk MYP receiving his

‘Youth Voice Award from

his local MP in

Parliament

pg. 6

UKYP Suffolk Candidate Application Form

Thank you for your interest in applying to stand as a member of the UK Youth Parliament in Suffolk.

Please note- This form is also available online at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/GGLHHSD

The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) helps young people to use their energy and passion to change the world for the

better. Having engaged hundreds of thousands of 11-18 year olds over the last 10 years, UKYP gives the young

people of the UK a powerful 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.

How can I become a Member of Youth Parliament?

To become a Member of UK Youth Parliament (MYP) you must stand for election. If you are interested in standing

for election you need to complete this candidate form. If you need any help completing your candidate form, or if

you have any questions, please contact Amber Spearing on 07501 293205 or email

amber.spearing@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk

The closing date for submitting your completed candidate form is 5.00pm on Sunday 2nd

March 2014.

After you have submitted your form, we will email you to confirm that we have received it.

From the 3rd March will contact you to let you know whether you have been successful or not to stand

in the election. You will be emailed a consent form which we will need your parent or carer to complete and

return to us, along with the code of conduct, expectations and further details.

You will then be invited to submit a written manifesto and/or a campaign video outlining your manifesto (issues

which you want to work on).

This must be received via email on a single side of A4 paper, or a video manifesto of no more than 2 minutes. This

must be received no later than 5pm on Sunday 9th March.

Fair Processing of Personal Data

The information you provide about yourself is personal data and we are collecting it so that we can involve you in

the UK Youth Parliament. We will only keep it for as long as you are involved in the UK Youth Parliament. Once you

have ended your involvement we will delete your information. We won't share your information with any third

party organisations.

Please tick here to state that you agree that we can hold your details for up to 2 years so we can contact you

regarding any by-elections and campaigns.

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Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Home telephone number:

Mobile number:

Email address

Date of Birth:

Age:

Name of school, college or workplace (we need this information so we can decide which area you can stand for election in):

Address:

Postcode: Tel number:

Your information

Why you want to become a Member of Youth Parliament

Your responses to the following questions will be used to help choose the candidate to stand for election.

Please note that your responses may be published online for others to see.

Please tell us why you think you would make a good Member of UK Youth Parliament:

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Please tell us what difference you would like to make as a Member of Youth Parliament

Thank you for taking the time to complete this form.

Please email your completed form to: amber.spearing@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk or complete

the online version at www.surveymonkey.com/s/GGLHHSD

Alternatively you can post it to the following address so that it arrives by Saturday 1st March.

Amber Spearing

Suffolk UKYP Support Worker

The Kirkley Centre

154 London Road South

Lowestoft

Suffolk

NR33 0AZ

End of document