MARION SAUVEBOIS discovers the young have strong opinions about society and our democratic process and want to be heard

“WE feel everything is being decided for us and we want to change that,” declares Swindon Member of Youth Parliament Chloe Townsend.

“What really annoys me is when decisions are made about the next five years of education and yet we’re not allowed to have a say,” rails her 13-year-old deputy Dani Wells.

“It’s not just education. Members of Youth Parliament from the South West debated over the EU referendum in Bristol and if it had been up to young people we would have voted to remain,” booms Jacob Patterson, 13. The sea of young faces around the meeting room at Nythe Centre nod as one.

“There is a disconnect between young people and the democratic voting process,” agrees 15-year-old Brad Frankham from Highworth. “But if you don’t have a say it’s easy to switch off.”

We hear time and again how young people feel disengaged from politics, or have little to contribute to policymaking. This half-baked notion is belied by Swindon Youth Council’s impassioned views and frustration at the status quo.

“They have a lot to say about what they want and don’t want, what’s right and what’s wrong and they’ve a right to be heard,” insists in Xan Bluett, who describes herself as the recently-formed Youth Council’s PA – a facilitator at their disposal to foster change in Swindon. “They need to be given a voice and listened to. The young people of today are the decision-makers of tomorrow.”

Although she deliberately takes a back seat during gatherings, limiting her participation to jotting down minutes and occasionally restoring order during particularly heated debates, Xan does a tad more than just chaperone.

The participation worker was appointed by youth charity STEP a year ago to revive the disbanded youth forum, which had folded due to poor attendance. The group made up of teenagers from secondary schools across town had met at the charity’s headquarters in Nythe to discuss issues close to their peers’ hearts and ensure those too young to vote were heard loud and clear by the powers that be.

In March, Xan reached out to students in local schools and with the help of eight candidates, including a pupil with learning difficulties, relaunched the forum under a new name: Swindon Youth Council.

Swindon’s Member of Youth Parliament, Chloe Townsend, 15, and her deputies Dani and Jacob, sit on the Youth Council, which meets every three weeks at the centre.

Ensuring young people are involved in major decisions regarding their future is key to the council. The ambitious group is already shaking things up and staking its claim as youngsters’ mouthpiece in the town.

“I want my voice to be heard and get my opinions across and I think it’s important for any young person to be heard,” says Chloe, from the Town Centre. “Not everyone wants to stand in front of people, some people are shy, but I can be that advocate for them, and make sure they are not ignored.”

While youth councillors are volunteers, the Member of Youth Parliament and her deputies were democratically elected to power by their peers. The UK Youth Parliament was founded by late conservative MP Andrew Rowe to give young people across the nation a platform to promote positive change and discuss key issues for their demographic. Like MPs, MYPs run for office on a specific agenda or campaign. They are however required to be apolitical. There are approximately 600 members across the UK. Chloe was elected with a landslide 5,218 votes from students across Swindon, on the back of her campaign to end the stigma surrounding mental health in children and make more dedicated support and age-specific treatment available to them.

“I know a lot of people who either had a mental issue or were low but didn’t have enough support,” says the Swindon Academy student, who hopes to study medicine at university but does not rule out a career in politics further down the line.

“They were stuck on a waiting list for months sometimes. But young people need help there and then before something bad happens. It should be easier for them to be advocated for. The referral process should be quicker and easier. A lot of it is about prevention and having things already in place for them. People can feel isolated because they have no-one to talk to. If it’s not dealt with it can impact the rest of their lives.”

Breaking down barriers and taboos, whatever they may be, is top on the Youth Council’s agenda.

Having watched her mother and sister grapple with undiagnosed dyslexia, Dani is particularly keen to put pressure on the local authority to introduce a solid structure for early intervention and support for anyone with a learning difficulty or special need.

The Churchfields Academy student has also been raising awareness of inequality and the enduring gender pay gap.

“It’s not just about young people’s issues, it’s about improving things for our future,” she adds. “I want to be in a job, in a society that doesn’t discriminate against me based on my gender.”

“The council works towards better standards of life for everyone,” agrees Brad.

As for fellow deputy Member of Youth of Parliament Jacob, he has embarked on a mission to keep youngsters active and introduce a discount card to allow children from deprived backgrounds access to leisure centres at a reduced rate.

“Being of a larger stature, it’s something close to me,” confides the Warneford School pupil. “The issue is cost. It should be easier for people of a hefty size, or who have disabilities, to have access to discounts and offers at leisure centres. There used to be the Swindon Card but it was scrapped. I would like something like that to be reintroduced.”

Of course like many young people, they have encountered some amount of scepticism. But they are determined to prove those who refuse to take them seriously wrong and fight the corner of the disenfranchised.

“Some people say, ‘You’ve not lived like we have or have the experience we have’, but we’ve still been here for 15 years,” says Brad firmly.

“A surprising majority of young people want to make a difference and know what they want.”

That being said, they have been pleasantly surprised, they all agree, by Swindon councillors’ receptiveness and willingness to discuss their concerns.

“I think they respect us enough to treat us seriously and talk to us professionally,” explains Chloe.

While only in its infancy the Youth Council has already made strides to influence change in Swindon. Some of its members recently joined the borough council’s health, adults and children services overview and scrutiny committee in a bid to provide much-needed insight, feedback and make the case for young people’s needs and fundamental rights.

“We want to make our mark,” smiles Jacob. “It’s only the start, but it’s a very good start.”

To join the Youth Council email Xan at swindonstepxb@aol.co.uk or go to the Swindon Youth Council & Members of Youth Parliament Facebook page.