Here we began with a discussion with MPs from the Liberal Democrats, and Labour about safety on public transport, healthcare, and improvements in education, but also about the current cost of living with taxes and mortgages. This was an enriching opportunity to understand how the people in power are improving our lives and supporting the youth of the country.
After the discussion, we were split into groups with people all across the region. Within these groups, we were given different tasks where points were available in the competition between groups. Our first task was to write a letter to a councillor explaining why we believe that the closure of youth clubs would not be beneficial for the youth of a town.
Following this, the second task was to plan a discussion with the councillor who was still not convinced that closing youth clubs was a bad idea. To ensure our discussion was fluent and persuasive, we had to plan things like date, time, location, and funding plans as if we were planning a real event.
The third task was to organise a rally/protest which we eventually had to perform, advocating against the reduction and closure of youth clubs. It was interesting to see what the other groups had come up with as we had many creative and expressive forms including singing, dancing, and plays.
After the rallies were over, our points gained were tallied and the winners were announced. Overall, the day was a fantastic experience where we had the opportunity to network with other youth councils in the region and learn more about how we can support the youth of Luton in voicing our opinions and improving the town for everyone.
Written by Shifa, the chair of the Luton Youth Council