One of the projects that Worcestershire Youth Cabinet is currently working on alongside the UK Youth Parliament and the British Youth Council throughout the months of October and November is 'Make Your Mark.'

 

'Make Your Mark' is a national annual issue-finding campaign that is figure-headed by young people throughout the United Kingdom. It is organised by the British Youth Council in collaboration with the United Kingdom Youth Parliament and is carried out in partnership with its local youth cabinets, young people's councils and young mayor schemes, as well as any youth service.

 

Last year, the 'Make Your Mark' ballot surveyed the opinions of a record-breaking 478, 632 young people aged 11-18. This makes it the largest youth consultation of its kind within the UK. This year, Members of Youth Parliament have set themselves a target of getting 1,000,000 young people to take part in this campaign.

 

In the Wyre Forest, local members of Worcestershire Youth Cabinet are planning on pairing up with local services for young people including local schools, youth groups and facilities for young people in order to give young people a direct say onto how this campaign shapes out.

 

The issues with the most votes identified with the 'Make Your Mark' campaign are voted on by Members of Youth Parliament at their annual debate when they sit in the House of Commons in November, and the top issues identified by young people within Worcestershire are incorporated Worcestershire Youth Cabinet's Forward Plan for the year ahead.

 

The top issues that Worcestershire Youth Cabinet worked on as part of their Forward Plan in the youth cabinet year 2013/2014 was public transport, the equal minimum wage, skills for life (Getting Read for Work), and marriage for all.

 

We are pleased that we have been able to deliver on these areas alongside our partner agencies such as the Local Enterprise Partnership, Wyre Forest District Council, and Worcestershire County Council. We look forward to working on next year's areas.

 

As the biggest youth consultation of its kind in the United Kingdom, 'Make Your Mark' is an effective way of giving young people a voice into what should be debated in the House of Commons by the elected members of Youth Parliament. I would like to encourage as many youth groups to get their young people to vote in this as possible.

 

You can now vote online by following this link at www.mi-voice.com/mym

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