[UK] Pupils give their views on poverty

from This Is Bradford

By Dan Webber

Representatives of Bradford and Keighley Youth Parliament (BKYP) have travelled to London to give the Government their views on child poverty and drugs.

Youth parliamentarians Qasim Malik and Gareth Banister formed part of a Youth Select Committee which put MPs and Government ministers on the spot on what they plan to do halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020.

Gareth, 16, of Haworth, who is due to begin a B-tec in early years education at Craven College later this month, said: "All young people should be equal.

"It is important young people are able to make the best of themselves no matter what situation they find themselves in.
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"We stopped having a non-uniform day at my old school, Oakbank, because some young people were picked on for not having the right clothes.

"Before travelling to London, we spoke to friends about what they thought about child poverty and what the important issues were.

"The main thing was equality - life should be fair for all children."

Qasim, 15, a pupil at Challenge College, Frizinghall, said the main message that he had passed on to MPs was that child poverty needed to be stopped now.

Bradford Youth Service spokesman Mick Chandsoor said: "About 25 young people aged 13 to 16 from all over the UK were invited to London to take part.

"Government minister Jim Murphy was just one of the politicians attending and young people were also given the chance to record their views in a Big Brother-style diary room."

Another five BKYP members - Vicky Carter, Richard Dunbar, Wasim Ahmed, Ruckaiya Karim and Ramla Aziz - also travelled to the capital to receive official thanks for their part in a Government-sponsored scheme.

Over the past year, BKYP members have interviewed young people to find out their views on drugs issues as part of the Government's Talk To Frank anti-drugs campaign.

Councillor Dale Smith, executive member for children's services, said: "These seven young people really are good ambassadors for Bradford. They show how getting involved in important issues can attract the Government's attention."

Young people interested in standing in the BKYP elections in January 2007 should contact Norrina Rashid on (01274) 431849.

The closing date for applications is Friday, October 20, 2006.