Wokingham

There was an air of tense expectation in the council chamber at Wokingham District Council’s civic offices on Wednesday (December 13) as the results of the youth parliament elections were eagerly anticipated. With no less than 2,100 votes cast across the district, it was time for the five candidates to find out who would take over the reins from outgoing youth MP (MYP) Michael Burgess.

The deputy returning officer at Wokingham District Council, Alison Wood, announced that 16-year-old Yan Couper-Harris from Woodley received 675 votes and was duly elected as the district’s youth MP. As part of his campaign, Yan pledged to look at improving transport for young people and getting reduced fares until the age of 18. He also would like to work towards providing young people with suitable and appropriate space in which bands can rehearse and develop their music.

The evening was the culmination of a week of voting across the Wokingham district which saw thousands of 11 to 18 year olds turning out to vote for their member of the youth parliament for the coming year ahead. The youth parliament gives young people a voice at the heart of both national and local government and is supported and organised locally by Wokingham District Council’s youth service.

The five candidates Yan Couper-Harris, Shabana Karim, Tom Munro, James Steel and Adam Tyndall put themselves forward for election; each hoping to win precious votes with their campaigns on youth issues. Improvements in transport and leisure activities as well as addressing bullying were among the important ideas that the young voters had to consider. Polling stations were found at local youth centres and schools across the district as well as a mobile voting bus which allowed young people to cast their votes.

Yan said: “I’m really looking forward to working as the new MYP and will hopefully do a good job. My main points are to sort out travel fares and rehearsal areas for musicians. I think Michael has done a great job as an MYP for the past two years and hopefully I can do just as good a job.”

Close behind in the polls was 14-year-old Shabana Karim from Earley with 594 votes and she will take on the role of deputy MYP for the district. Shabana would particularly like to address issues of racism and to improve student facilities with a place to chill out and relax.

The declaration ceremony was hosted by champion for youth and leisure Wokingham Cllr Malcolm Bryant and was attended by lead members and officers of the council along with the five candidates and their families and friends. Outgoing MYP Michael Burgess gave a presentation on his year in office.

Paul Blount, Wokingham area youth work manager, said: “The candidates this year are all very capable and they should all be very pleased with the campaigns they have presented. We have seen some excellent support right across the district and I am very impressed that young people take the democratic process seriously.”

Outgoing MYP Michael Burgess said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time as the district’s youth MP, some big things have happened this year and I’m sure Yan will work hard for young people in the Wokingham district.”

Yan will attend national UKYP meetings including an annual sitting and regional meetings, take part in regular dialogue with ministers, including the prime minister and opposition spokespeople, and have his say on policy and programme development.

In the Wokingham district the MYP is supported by a representative group of young people known as Youth 10 who look at youth issues and solutions in the Wokingham district as well as being responsible for awarding £60,000 in funding to groups of young people who would like to develop projects that will benefit the local community.

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, champion for Wokingham youth and leisure, said: “This was a great opportunity for the district’s young people to select someone to represent them and make an impact on the lives of others living in the Wokingham district. Yan will be the voice of the district’s young people and one of his jobs will be to challenge negative opinions of young people.

“Yan will be able to tell the decision makers what it’s like to be a young person living in the Wokingham district and help influence change and services. This is a golden opportunity for him to enter the world of politics and take part in the decision-making process.”

The coming year will be busy and challenging for Yan and Shabana. They will meet local council members and service providers for young people and will provide the vital youth perspective on decisions that affect young people. The Youth Parliament also meets in a larger South East forum allowing MYPs to come together to discuss regional matters and in July the youth parliament holds its national sitting.

Wokingham District Council