UK Youth Parliament

The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) has over 364 representatives (369 seats for elected Members of Youth Parliament) aged 11 to 18.

Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) are usually elected in annual youth elections throughout the UK. In the past two years, one million young people have voted in UK Youth Parliament elections.

Once elected, MYPs organise events and projects, run campaigns and influence decision makers on the issues which matter most to young people in their area. All MYPs have the opportunity to meet once a year at the UK Youth Parliament Annual Sitting.

Aims

UKYP aims to give the young people of the UK between the ages of 11 and 18 a voice, which will be heard and listened to by local, regional and national government, providers of services for young people and other agencies who have an interest in the views and needs of young people.

It has an independent national identity, that has a rolling programme of activities across the year. This includes an Annual Sitting, a Sitting in the House of Commons, regional meetings, dialogue with Ministers and Opposition spokespeople and inputs to policy and programme development.

Objectives

UKYP is composed of representatives aged between 11 and 18 years old (inclusive) from across the UK. It particularly encourages the involvement of young people who are socially excluded, but also representation from established groups such as local youth councils and individuals. UKYP:

• ensures that the young people of the UK are given a voice on any issue that affects them, as laid out in Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of The Child
• gives the young people of the UK an opportunity to be involved in a democratic process at a national level
• empowers young people to take positive action within their local communities based upon issues of shared concern
• is a non-party political organisation, and as such, seeks to represent no party-political view. UKYP is solely issue based

For more information, visit the UK Youth Parliament website (opens new window).