YOUNG people are often dismissed as apathetic and disengaged when it comes to political decision making, but one Swindon teenager is determined to disprove that stereotype.

Kate Stickley, aged 17, of Stratton St Margaret, has launched a petition asking parliament to considering granting the vote to those young people who will turn 18 before the end of the academic year in which a ballot is held.

With the EU referendum fast approaching, Kate believes now is the time to bring attention to the issue.

“It’s ironic that we’re expected to take on adult responsibilities but we’re not given adult rights,” said Kate.

“I think the stereotypes of young people these days are absurd – in my experience, certainly at my college, we are very politically aware and equally as passionate as anyone else."

Kate is fully aware that her petition is unlikely to attract the 100,000 signatures needed to bring forward a debate in parliament, but she thinks keeping the question in people’s minds is equally important.

She added: “There was a debate in the House of Lords quite recently about lowering the voting age and they decided against it.

“I fully understood many of the reasons why, but perhaps if we target it at ages older than 16 but slightly under the voting age then there would be more leeway.

“It would catch that niche of people in a way which would address the worries about maturity and decision making – we’re in the same academic year, we’re all making the same life choices at the same point in time.

“I think I’m the same maturity as my peers who are already 18, a matter of months doesn’t impact on my understanding of the political and social world as much as campaigners against lowering the voting age would suggest.”

While her petition may not reach the floor of the Commons, Kate’s determination has attracted praise from a key local political figure.

Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, said: “It’s fantastic to see Kate’s enthusiasm and passion for democracy.

“I had previously voted in parliament to lower the voting age to 16 - however, when I then raised the issue on a tour of sixth form colleges, the 16 to 18 year olds I spoke to, surprisingly, on the whole, preferred sticking to 18.

“I’ve stepped back from that position since.”

Whatever the outcome of her current efforts, Kate is determined to make a difference more broadly in the coming years.

She will head to Warwick University later this year to study sociology and has dreams of teaching, but in a rather unusual setting.

“I would like to work in prisons and youth detention centres in the future,” she explained.

“I’ve learnt about the level of education that children in detention centres are getting and how it affects their grades, when they get out their job prospects are low and they don’t have much confidence and self-esteem.

“Education is so important and I’m really lucky to have been privileged with it – I want to give that opportunity to other people.”

To add your voice to Kate's voting campaign, visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/129883