About the Hackney Youth Parliament

In October, 20 new members were elected to the Hackney Youth Parliament. Over 3600 young people voted in the 2010 elections, a big increase on the number who voted last time round. Over the next weeks, the new members will be undertaking training and setting out their programme for the coming two years. Here's what you can expect from the new Parliament.

Youth Parliament aims

• To be the voice of and represent the views of young people in Hackney
• To regularly consult young people in Hackney on their views
• To be involved in decision-making with the Council, Councillors etc.
• To have an impact and make positive change
• To keep young people in Hackney informed on things affecting them

HYP values the commitment of its members, working together, listening to young people, being inclusive and tacking the issues that matter to young people.

HYP believes every young person has the right to have their say and get involved regardless of gender, religion, race, sexuality, origin, identity, disability or for any other reason will have their membership taken away.

And here's a list of the HYP's achievements over the last two years...

Over its two-year term the Hackney Youth Parliament was very, very busy! Here's a short list of what they achieved:

• developed a constitution for HYP
• made Freedom and Choices – Hackney Youth Parliament does US Democracy.
• worked with the Council to gain funding to renovate and build youth clubs for young people in Hackney. This resulted in the launch of the Young Hackney Youth Centres and a NEW youth centre in Stoke Newington.
• visited Downing Street on many occasions, met Gordon Brown (who was interested in getting help to develop the government's youth and Alcohol policy) and government ministers, like Ed Balls, Harriet Harmon, and MP for Hackney South Meg Hillier.
• took part in many projects that help improve facilities for young people, and give them more things to do, such as the Youth Opportunity Fund project and the Youth-led Inspections project.
• undertook peer research projects on Child Poverty and Anti Social Behaviour.
• organised youth events such as One Hackney and met with the Police and local councillors to ensure young people’s voices were getting heard around issues such as Stop and Search.
• attended many national youth events up and down the country representing the young people of Hackney.

Minutes and manifestos

You can download agendas/minutes from HYP meetings by clicking on the date.

 
How to get involved

• join your Area Youth Forum
• email us your issues, opinions, ideas at hyp4you@googlemail.com
• come to a meeting

HYP meet fortnightly at Hackney Town Hall. The Parliament takes responsibility for the running of their meetings.  If you would like to attend a meeting please email an HYP officer:

Chair hypchair@googlemail.com

Vice-chair hypvicechair@googlemail.com

Secretary hypsecretary@googlemail.com

Comms Officer hypcomms@googlemail.com

Finance Officer hypfinance@googlemail.com

Links to other useful organisations

British Youth Council – advice and support for setting up a Forum or Youth Council

www.byc.org.uk

UK Youth Parliament – Find out about the young people who represent you nationally

www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk

UK Parliament - Official UK Parliament website; contains everything you need to know about the world of Westminster!

www.parliament.uk