A voice for young people.
If you care about the issues affecting young people, or just want to have a bigger say in how things are run in East Sussex, get in touch with your local representative on the East Sussex Youth Cabinet or the UK Youth Parliament.
East Sussex Youth Cabinet
In November 2007 nearly 17,000 young people across the county voted to elect new members to the Youth Cabinet. This 50% voter turnout was the third highest in the country.
The Youth Cabinet is not run along party political lines. Every member is independent and works around issues that are important to them and their constituents.
Because it is democratically elected it gives you a credible and authoritative voice on local issues.
The members speak for you to people who make decisions that will affect your life – from the police and health service through to Connexions and transport organisations, and everything in between. Members serve for two years, from January 2008 to December 2010.
East Sussex Youth Cabinet members
- Lewes
Katrina Mather
Liam Francis
- Wealden
James Davies
- Eastbourne North
Oliver Beason
- Eastbourne Central
Hannah Sayers
Freddie Poulton
- Hastings
Oliver Fawcett
Jess Hanson
- Rother
Giles Grainge
George Morris
The East Sussex Youth Cabinet
Picture above, left to right:
Back row - Oliver Beatson, Lizzie Vine, Hannah Sayers, Oli Fawcett, Giles Grainge, Jess Hanson, Freddie Poulton, James Davies
Front row, sitting – Rosie Benn, Jason Cross, Tara McCarthy, Liam Francis
Videos made by the Youth Cabinet
Stop Smoking video
As part of the Big Vote that elected members of the Youth Cabinet, over 4,000 young people responded saying that ‘Stop Smoking' was the biggest issue concerning them.
The Youth Cabinet made this part of their first campaign. After being presented to senior managers at the Children and Young People's Trust Executive Group, it is now going into Personal, Social and Health Education lessons (Years 8 and 10) across the county, along with a questionnaire. This questionnaire aims to build up a picture of attitudes to smoking and find out what Stop Smoking services young people would be most likely to access. The results will be presented back to Children and Young People's Trust Executive Group early in 2009, where your feedback will hopefully influence policy and practice in these services.
Thanks are due to the Children's Services Participation team and Creative Partnerships for their support, and to Sussex Downs College for collating the survey results.
Speak Out!
In July 2008 the Youth Cabinet consulted marginalised groups of young people across the county, who brought up a huge range of issues and ideas. With video and editing training the Youth Cabinet made a film of the sessions and showed it to the Children and Young People's Trust Executive Group, who are making contact with these groups to meet with them and help address some of the issues raised.
Please note:
- East Sussex County Council does not control or endorse other content displayed on YouTube.
- Some public computers (in some schools, colleges or libraries for example) don't allow access to YouTube.
UK Youth Parliament
The UK Youth Parliament is not run along party political lines. It represents your views to national as well as local decision makers – people who provide the services and advice that you need, and who are interested in the views and needs of young people.
Nationally there are over 300 elected Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs), aged between 11 and 18. East Sussex has members for three areas – those Youth Cabinet members with the highest number of votes become Members of the Youth Parliament.
- Lewes and Wealden
Liam Francis, MYP
James Davies, Deputy MYP
- Eastbourne
Hannah Sayers, MYP
- Hastings and Rother
Jess Hanson, MYP
Giles Grainge, Deputy MYP
East Sussex Children's Trust
The East Sussex Children's Trust brings together a group of organisations who work closely together to improve the support available to children, young people and their families.
Have your say
Don't miss our consultations section, where you can keep up with all the local and national surveys and polls for young people:
Contact us
The Participation Unit can provide more information about the duties and responsibilities of Cabinet members and MYPs, and how to stand for election.
