A YOUTH Parliament is calling on young people to give their views in the UK's largest youth consultation.

Young people from Slough are taking part in the annual Make Your Mark ballot, the largest consultation of young people in the country. 

Slough’s contribution to the consultation is being coordinated by 18-year-old Hamzah Ahmed, Slough Youth Parliament (SYP) member. Mr Ahmed was elected by SYP to represent Slough and sits on the UK Youth Parliament.

In the ballot ending October 9, young people across the country will be asked what issues matter most to them to determine what is debated by the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) in the House of Commons on November 13, the first time Slough will have been represented.

Voting takes place online and through ballot papers issued in schools and youth groups.

Ten topics including mental health, funding for youth services, votes at 16, tackling racism, austerity and child poverty will be available to choose from on the initial Make Your Mark ballot paper. 

Five of the most popular topics among young people will go on to be discussed by MYPs in their November debate, chaired by the speaker of the House of Commons Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP and broadcast live on BBC Parliament.

Last year, the Make Your Mark ballot surveyed the opinions of over 875,000 young people, making it the largest youth consultation of its kind in the UK. This year, the campaign aims to set a new record by getting one million young people to take part.

Slough’s Youth Parliament is supported by Slough Borough Council’s Young People’s Service. 

Councillor Pavitar Mann, commissioner for children and education, said: “Increasingly young people want to have their say about local services and the decisions that affect them and as a council we need to ensure their voices are heard.

"Slough’s Youth Parliament was set up for that very specific reason and I’m delighted that it is going from strength to strength. 

“The Make Your Mark consultation is a great opportunity for young people to talk about the issues that matter to them and have them debated in the House of Commons, and so I would encourage young people to take advantage and have their voices heard.”

Mr Ahmed said: “This is a huge opportunity for young people to have their voice heard.

"The response so far has been positive with 12 secondary schools already registered to take part, although it’d be great to get more of them involved.

"The more voices we get, the harder it’ll be for anyone to ignore us”.

Young people from Slough’s Youth Parliament have signed up to become Make your Mark champions and have been busy encouraging others to do the same.

The champions will be tasked with organising the consultation within their school, sport or youth clubs throughout September. If you are a young person and would like to register as a Make Your Mark champion or vote online visit www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/makeyourmark/

If you would like to register your school or youth organisation to take part, please contact the young people’s service by email sloughforyouth@slough.gov.uk