Sarah Mahmood urges young people to take part in the national Make Your Mark campaign

Sarah Mahmood - Rochdale Borough Member of Youth Parliament

Sarah Mahmood, Member of Youth Parliament for Rochdale, is leading a campaign in Rochdale urging young people to take part in the national Make Your Mark campaign to vote on issues that are important to them.

Rochdale Borough Youth Cabinet is launching the Make Your Mark campaign at the Youth Service’s Festival of Friendship on 31 August at Broadfield Park, where ballot papers will be available.

Sarah said: “Make Your Mark is a fantastic campaign that gives young people an important voice in voting on issues that are important to them. I would encourage everyone to get involved and make their mark.”

Councillor Donna Martin, portfolio holder for children’s services, encouraged every young person to get involved: “It is fabulous to see so many young people getting involved in democracy, having their voices heard and raising their issues to a national level. The Youth Parliament has delivered some excellent work over the years under the Mark Your Mark campaign and it is an important process to be involved in.”

The national ballot runs until 6 October, and young people aged 11 – 19 can vote for one issue each in order to determine what is debated by the UK Youth Parliament in the House of Commons on 10 November.

The issues to vote on are:

• A curriculum to prepare us for life – including sex, relationships, finance and politics.
• Votes at 16 – in all elections and referendums.
• Protect LGBT+ people – because LGBT+ people deserve to be treated the same as everyone else.
• Funding to support young carers should be increased.
• Public transport to be cheaper, better and more accessible for all.
• First aid education for all young people on a regular basis, including CPR. Defibrillators should be available in all schools across the UK.
• Mental health services should be improved with young people’s help.
• Make the invisible visible – young people should work together to raise awareness of debilitating illnesses and conditions which are not always visible.
• Protect school budgets from damaging cuts.
• Work experience hubs for 11-18 year olds because knowing where to find work experience can be challenging. 

To vote, visit:

http://www.mi-event.info/event/makeyourmark17