Meet the Youth MP candidates!
Five young people are campaigning to Darlington's next Member of Youth Parliament. Between now and Friday 1 March, the candidates will be campaigning to gain the votes of young people in Darlington. They will each have three main topics which they are campaigning for. Once elected, this young person will represent young people as the Darlington Member of Youth Parliament for 2024-2026.
Between 26 February and 1 March, young people aged 11-18 will be able to cast their votes for their next Member of Youth Parliament in school.
Here are some extracts from the candidates' manifestos:
Stephen Adenuga
“My name is Stephen Adenuga, I’m 16 years old, a student at Carmel College Sixth Form and I’m running to be Darlington’s Youth Member of Parliament. I believe that if I am elected, I could affect long-lasting beneficial change for the young people of Darlington today and for generations to come.
“I have received many suggestions surrounding improving public transport services and facilities when talking to friends and other young people around Darlington. I feel like a good place to start with improving public transport would be improving bus stop facilities, so they are more pleasant and sheltered for when people are waiting for the bus for long durations of time.
“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.”
“During my time in Carmel, at secondary and now in sixth form, we have had our School of Sanctuary status and group. I think we should all commit to creating a safe and inclusive culture of welcome that benefits all of us, including those in Darlington seeking sanctuary.”
Charlie Cela
“My name is Charlie Cela. I am 13 years old, and I attend Longfield Academy. I am willing to act as a voice for the young population of Darlington as an effective, collaborative leader.
“Three in ten people aged between 16 and 29 years will experience anxiety sometime within that period according to the UK Mental Health Foundation. Therefore, I aim to develop more training and awareness of wellbeing and anxiety through PSHE lessons and school assemblies in primary and secondary schools. Together, we will put this into action and reduce anxiety rates in Darlington.
“Almost 20% of young people found ‘education and learning’ as the biggest issue in Darlington in 2022, with ‘jobs and opportunities’ being ranked as the second most significant issue in the UK according to teenagers surveyed. By introducing more sixth form, university, and apprenticeship experiences in secondary schools, students will have a clearer idea of what they wish to achieve and how they can achieve these ambitions.
“According to The Northern Echo, almost 14,100,000 tonnes of UK produced waste was not recycled in 2018. I would like to campaign for a carbon neutral council by 2030 and establish an affordable council bike hire service for students to help them travelling to and from school on a daily basis more efficiently at a low price.
Jack James
“I am Jack James; I am 13 years old. I go to Longfield Academy. I want to be Darlington’s next Member of Youth Parliament because I understand how important it is for the young people of Darlington’s voice to be heard. If I am elected, I will always make sure that your voice is heard.
“If school timings were to be changed there would be a drastic improvement in attendance, performance and the overall feeling in schools all over Darlington. I firsthand know that young people often feel negative about the time that schools start and end so I know how important it would be to have someone to deliver for this.
“Creating more activities for young people in Darlington will significantly improve what activities young people can take part in and enjoy whilst keeping the costs accessible. Young people should be able to take part in activities that they find interesting and engaging and I will strive to create activities that will achieve this.
“Physical activities can not only improve physical health but mental health. Places such as the Dolphin Centre are great places to take part in activities. Since these activities may not always be affordable, I will try to campaign for more discounted and free activities.”
Sadie Maguire
“I am Sadie Maguire, and I am 16 years old, and currently a student at Carmel College Sixth Form. I am campaigning to be MYP for Darlington as I believe that all young people should have a voice in politics and deserve to be listened to.
“Climate change will have detrimental impacts on the environment, and we must do what we can to reduce its effects. This can be achieved by applying schemes to make sure lights and other electronics are switched off in classrooms when they’re not in use, to ensure no energy is wasted.
“Poverty is becoming an increasing problem within Darlington. I will campaign for school uniforms to become cheaper and more accessible to families, as well as easier access to free school meals.
“I would like to increase the amount of support available for the mental health of young people in Darlington. I will do this by campaigning for school to start later and implementing authorised mental health days off school.”
Jack Parvin
“Hello, my name is Jack, I am 17 years old, and I go to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College. I am running for this position because I would like to make a positive change in the area and boost opportunities for those living nearby.
“Firstly, I feel it is essential that we make it easier for people to make use of green modes of transportation. If elected, I will work towards ensuring that the transport is not only seamless for the consumer, but also goes above and beyond – this will complement the ‘Net Zero Teesside’ agenda, pushed forward by local authorities.
“At this current point in time, urban areas across the country are suffering, the famous “death of the high street” which is hitting many in all parts of the country. If elected, I will push for a true community hub to be established in the town centre, like the efforts of Metrocentre in Gateshead, this will be a great place for those visiting the town to take a break from shopping or doing their business and just have a relax and a sit down, while offering basic subsidised beverages and snacks, at affordable prices.
“The epidemic of the warming of the planet and the devastating impacts of that, due to Greenhouse Gas emissions. If elected, my aim would be to work towards, with the help of the students at the respective schools/colleges, getting all schools & colleges in the town signed up to the Let’s Go Zero program, a project dedicated to promoting climate education within schools as well as reducing the emissions of the schools themselves."
For more information, contact Evie Chambers on [email protected] or 07881 617917.