I have been the Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) for the City of London since April 2022. When I wrote my manifesto pledges, I wanted them to be based around topics I was passionate about. My pledges were to improve sustainability in the Square Mile and to improve youth mental health in the city.
Since being in office, I’ve acted on my pledges in multiple ways. Some of the highlights have been the work I’ve done on a national level. At two Youth Parliament annual conferences I have helped to plan, draft and present motions pushing for sustainability to become a greater priority for the government and for sustainability to be included in the National Curriculum.
I was given the opportunity last year to speak in the House of Commons about mental health. I spoke about how discrimination against mixed race people can affect young mental health, a particularly relevant topic in the diverse City of London. On a local level, I organised a weeklong series of workshops and interactive activities to connect young people with mental health professionals and spread awareness about celebrities who have struggled with mental health and tips everyone can use to help overcome some of these.
Recently, we ran a day of sustainable workshops learning how the lifespan of clothing can be extended by embroidering over damage, how to plant tomatoes to teach young people about the importance of agriculture, and how to make an organic face balm out of old coffee grounds. All these lessons stressed the importance of the circular economy. These are just a few of a host of other opportunities that young people in the City of London have been able to take part in over the last 18 months.
My biggest achievement since being elected MYP are the workshops I have helped to organise and run, as they have been some of the most visible examples of the work I have been doing and have allowed me to meet face to face with the people who benefit from our campaigns. Understanding the impact of what you do is vital to learning from your mistakes and building even more effective events in the future.
One of my favourite moments of being an MYP was meeting the Lord Mayor earlier this year, in the beautiful setting of Mansion House. This was a fantastic opportunity to meet someone who has lived a life of service to the people of the City of London, allowing me to reflect on my own impact on the young people of the Square Mile.
I have no doubt that some of the people I have met as an MYP will be lifelong friends and contacts, helping to build my professional and personal circle. The ability to ‘network’ and leverage your contacts is vital to success in the modern world, making the role an incredibly valuable one. I have also learnt how to engage with policy makers, politicians, and businesspeople. Especially how to be clear, concise and targeted with my language, something I have already used to my advantage in university applications and my job working at a local garden centre.
My work in sustainability has helped to inform my future goals and aspirations. I hope one day to work to help develop supply chains for the circular economy. Whilst being an MYP I have had discussions with people working in this industry, as well as those on the frontiers of new technology. This has been vital to better understand how to bring about positive change in this field. I was invited to attend a formal dinner and whilst there I met with a preeminent expert in the emerging field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and discussed the implications of these technologies for young people and the economy. This opportunity I likely wouldn’t have had were it not for being MYP!
Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in office as an MYP and the experiences it has afforded me. I can’t wait to see what the next MYP has in store and the impact their manifesto pledges have on the community.
