Darlington's Member of Youth Parliament

In March of 2026, the young people off Darlington elected their new Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), Evie Russell. The role of the MYP and his Youth Cabinet is to take forward issues that children and young people from the borough of Darlington have identified and to campaign for change to happen. Young people can request for issues to be brought to the attention of their Youth Cabinet via school, their MYP, any member of the Youth Cabinet or by emailing [email protected].

Darlington’s Member of Youth Parliament, Evie Russell

Hi everyone, my name is Evie Russell, I’m 16 years old and a student at Carmel College. In March 2024, I was elected as the newest Member of Youth Parliament for Darlington. I care deeply about the wellbeing and voices of young people, and I want to make sure everyone feels supported, listened to, and represented. I’m committed to creating positive change in our schools and community, and I’ll work to make sure everyone feels valued and included.

Evie Russell's Manifesto

Mental health and wellbeing

Mental health and wellbeing should be a priority for young people, not an afterthought. Too many of us struggle in silence because support is hard to access, waiting lists are long, or we feel ashamed to speak up. I will fight for better mental health support in schools and communities, including safe spaces to talk, trained staff who understand us, and clear information about where to get help. With exam stress, students can feel increasingly overwhelmed, so I will work to provide support for people struggling or those needing to 'take a break', to prevent burn out or their mental health deteriorating further. For example, creating spaces in schools to unwind with counsellors or staff, and tools to help students relax in that moment. I will ensure that young people don’t feel ashamed to talk about their wellbeing, as reaching out can make a difference. Everyone deserves to feel supported and valued; no one should face these challenges alone.

Mental health and wellness

I believe that we could all benefit from a break occasionally. A break from all the stress and pressure that comes with school and college, particularly exams. From experience, I have seen the adverse effects that exam stress has on some students which include detrimental effects on mental health and wellbeing as well as poor performance. My proposed solution to this would be students being able to take mental health and wellness days as an authorised absence for all secondary schools and colleges in Darlington. These would be controlled to an extent, but it would be at the discretion of parents/carers. I believe this would have both a positive effect on performance and student wellbeing.

Environmental action

Protecting the environment is essential for the future of young people. Through talking to people in Darlington, It’s clear just how much it truly matters in our community. We are the generation that will face the consequences of climate change, and damage to our natural spaces. It is my aim to support action such as reducing waste, improving recycling, and helping us engage. I’ve had requests for clearly labelled bins so we can easily make sure we are recycling, and I am passionate about making that reality. I truly believe young people should feel empowered to take part in decisions that affect the town and planet we will grow up in. I’m committed to making sure that every voice is heard. We deserve to grow up in a healthy, clean environment without the threat of our green spaces being destroyed.

Youth spaces, clubs, and community

Young people deserve access to fun, safe, and inclusive activities outside of school. Through earlier work exploring activities in town, I have heard repeatedly that clubs, youth spaces, and leisure activities are either too expensive, inaccessible, or simply don’t exist in some areas of our town. People also feel that there isn’t an opportunity to start something new - especially in sport. I will advocate for better funding and support for youth clubs, creative spaces, sports, and social activities that are welcoming to everyone, regardless of background, ability, or income. I’ve had suggestions to create simple, organised spaces for people to be able to spend time with their friends and I will work hard to make these changes. This is important for building confidence and forming and strengthening friendships. We all should have somewhere we feel we belong, and our opportunities shouldn’t feel limited. I will work to make Darlington even more enjoyable for our community of young people.

Darlington Youth Cabinet

Under of Member of Youth Parliament we have a Youth Cabinet. This group meets regularly to discuss issues that they have noticed young people are concerned about. They also often meet with different decision makes both within and outside of the Council to act as a voice for the young people of Darlington. We are always open to new members joining the Youth Cabinet so if this is something you would be interested in and you are aged 11-18, please email Evie Burford on [email protected].

Make Your Mark 2024

During February 2024, schools from across Darlington took part in the Youth Parliament's Make Your Mark Consultation. Make Your Mark is an annual consultation of 11-18 year olds. It aims to give young people the chance to have their say on what matters to them. This year 10 issues were presented to young people on a ballot paper. They had to select the most important issue to them. Over 3,440 votes were cast across 12 different schools and Health & Wellbeing came out as the top issue for young people for 746 votes. The second most important issue was Culture, Media & Sport with 517 and third was most important with 404 votes. These votes have led to a detailed survey being given to young people to further understand what is meant by ‘Health & Wellbeing’. These votes will also help our Youth Cabinet to know what young people in Darlington care about most.

Make Your Mark - Darlington 2024 [pdf document]

Mental Health Survey

The Youth Cabinet wanted to get a better understanding of what young people meant when they labelled ‘Health & Wellbeing’ as their top priority.

The group sent out Health & Wellbeing surveys and collected 569 responses from a variety of young people. The responses were then analysed and an information leaflet/poster was created to signpost young people to support that is already available should they need it.

Health and Wellbeing survey results 2024 [pdf document]