Housing and diversity are focus for new Youth Parliament

Wednesday 30 November 2022

The newest recruits to Jersey's Youth Parliament will this year be focusing their campaign efforts on the right to play, housing and diversity.

Established in 2020 with the support of the Youth Service, the Jersey Youth Parliament is made up of 40 young people aged between 12 and 18, who sit for 18 months at a time.

The members research and present three campaigns focusing on issues agreed by the members, and offer recommendations of future policies to the States assembly based on their findings. 

Over the next 18 months, 17 members have set themselves the goal of campaigning for safer and cheaper facilities for children and young people to play, and looking at the travel options for them to access them and the associated cost.

Huge well done to our members for giving 3 fantastic presentations to the @StatesAssembly yesterday afternoon. ????????

They were all really well researched and definitely gave the audience lots to consider. Reports on the presentations to follow. pic.twitter.com/La44vdKa3P

— Jersey Youth Parliament (@JeYthParliament) November 29, 2022

Nine members will be working on raising awareness of the impact of poor housing in Jersey and how this affects young people.

Finally, the ‘diversity and inclusion’ group, made up of seven people, aims to spread awareness of the LGBTQ+ community and how other religions and beliefs could be celebrated and taught. 

The first Youth Parliament, which sat from 2019 to 2022, presented campaigns focussing on Climate Action, Education Reform and Mental Health.

Recommendations to the States Assembly included an implementation of an island-wide recycling system, to the introduction of a fit for purpose Children's Mental Health Strategy. 

Pictured: Members of the Youth Parliament presented their campaign ideas to States members on November 28.

13-year-old Youth Parliament Maria Encarnacao said: “This is a great opportunity for any young person on our Island to use their voice and opinions to change what we have or do not already.” 

Education Minister Deputy Inna Gardiner said: “Ensuring that young people can have their views heard and be involved in making change is vital. 

“I have already started working with members of the JYP, and recently welcomed a member of the Diversity and Inclusion campaign onto the steering group for the International Cultural Centre, whose views have been important in shaping the future of the Centre. I look forward to working more with the new Parliament as their campaigns develop.” 

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