A town student stepped up to the mic this week in a BBC-style Question Time event to debate key issues involving young people.
Newport Girls High pupil Hollie Higgins was a panellest at the event in Telford’s Civic Offices last Friday- organised as part of Local Democracy Month.
It was delivered in front of a live audience including young people from schools across the borough.
Hollie represented the UK Youth Parliament and was joined by other speakers including Telford and Wrekin Council leader Andrew Eade.
Radio Shropshire breakfast show presenter Eric Smith hosted the show and Hollie was delighted to get on the panel.
She said: “I had been to the event before but as a member of the audience so it was great to sit on the panel. I had really good time.
“The audience was made up from a students from about seven different schools from across Telford and Wrekin. But for the first time they had electronic voting pads for audience participation.
“There was a particularly good discussion about creating more jobs for young people and making the job centre in Telford more user friendly so I think something good will come from this.”
The five top issues submitted by students on the day included careers for young people, cheaper public transport, more space to play and meet, more activities for young people and less smoking and drug taking.
Other panellists included cabinet member for children and young people councillor Stephen Burrell, the council’s director of children’s services Julia Almond and councillor Keith Austin.
Hollie added: “Next week I am taking part in the Telford Apprentice competition which is about opening politics up to the younger generation. I will be judging at this event so I will be looking to take the Alan Sugar approach.”
The Local Democracy Month campaign is following on from last year’s Local Democracy Week – with the decision taken to spread this year’s events across a whole month and eventually through the year.
The final major event next Wednesday is being badged as Telford’s answer to The Apprentice, which tasks 10 teams of four young people and two decision making adults with creating a “fantasy” political party.
