None representational

In Telford and Wrekin we are lacking a provision for young people to express their views on issue that effect them or to bring issues forward to the main council that they as young people think they need addressed

I was part of the South Lanarkshire youth council for around 4 or 5 years, over this time I was both the Vice Chairman and elected Chairman. Moving down to Telford was a shock in the way that they fail to engage with young people to get their views. In my time my constituency elected me on to the Scottish Youth Parliament and whilst a member of the SYP ( Scottish youth Parliament ) I served a term (1 year) as an executive member and as a member of the United Kingdom Youth Parliament. I have found out since being in Telford that the elections to become an MYP ( Member of the youth Parliament)  in the UKYP are only done within schools.

Now as the UKYP is available for anyone up to the age of 18 the way  people are now elected is not a correct representation of the young people within Telford and Wrekin, I would propose that setting up area youth councils for every area within Telford and Wrekin would be the best way forward. 

I have many ideas on how this should be done, and as I was involved in the re-building a youth council,  I am certain that I can arrange for one to be instigated in each area of the council. It also wouldn't be to bad if it is set up similar to each parish/ Town council. As this could then feed into a main body youth council. I am sure there is already a Youth Forum in Telford but iIhear little about it. 

From this you would also then get a better representation of young people who could be elected an MYP onto UKYP.  I have offered my services to Telford and Wrekin council before as a volunteer, filled in all the paper work for a CRB but then no one contacted me back. I am passionate about young people being heard and would do my up most for a youth council to be set up in my area 

Ryan Laing