Youth Club members spend day with MP

Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert has been shadowed for the day by two members of the Arundel Youth Club.

 

Rosie and Millie, both 15, spent the day at Westminster on Wednesday 5 November to learn about the role of an MP.

The visit was organised to coincide with National Youth Work Week which ran from 1st to 7th November. 

Youth Work Week is an annual event organised by the National Youth Agency to promote the voice and influence of young people.  It culminates with Youth Takeover Day which enables young people to take over, for a day, from key decision makers in government, local authorities, businesses, charities, schools and the media.

During their visit, Rosie and Millie were able to:

  • Attend Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons and listen to a parliamentary debate on work and pensions;

  • Have a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament and visit the Gerald Scarfe exhibition of political cartoons;

  • Join Mr Herbert at a meeting with one of his constituents who had travelled from West Sussex to lobby Parliament on an environmental issue;

  • Attend a presentation on Tuberculosis, in relation to Mr Herbert's role as Co-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global TB, and;

  • Join Mr Herbert for lunch in the House of Commons.

Following the visit, Rosie commented: "I really enjoyed myself and have gained a better understanding of Parliament and what MPs do - I want to be Prime Minister now!"

Millie said: "It was a really good experience.  I never really understood Parliament before.  I felt that Nick Herbert gave us a fuller understanding of the way it works."

Lynn Kendall of West Sussex County Council's Youth Service commented: "It was brilliant that Nick Herbert agreed to let Rosie and Millie shadow him for the day as part of National Youth Work Week. 

"They have gained an insight into how things operate and a wider view on politics.  They are both full of their experience and will be doing a report on the visit.  Rosie, who is a member of the Arun Youth Parliament, will also be giving them feedback."

Nick Herbert commented: "I was delighted that Rosie and Millie were able to spend the day with me at the Commons.  Youth Work Week is a great initiative and I was very happy to support it.

"MPs vote on a lot of issues that affect the everyday lives of young people and I'm glad to have given members of a local Youth Club an insight into my work and what the job of an MP is like."

Ends

 

Notes for Editors

1. Arundel Youth Club is based in Surrey Street, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9DT. 

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