UK Youth Parliament and Barnet Youth Ambassador Scheme

Voting is now open and will close on 1 March 2024

Barnet’s My Say Matters team are excited to announce the forthcoming cycle of elections to select our next Barnet Members of Youth Parliament and Youth Ambassadors.

We have welcomed young people aged 11-16 from all backgrounds and communities to apply and take part in this opportunity.

View the Barnet Youth Ambassador and Youth Parliament candidates campaign statements here.

If you have any queries please contact rebecca.morris@barnet.gov.uk 

UK Youth Parliament (UKYP)

The UK Youth Parliament enables you to use your energy and passion to change the world for the better. It is a national forum run by the British Youth Council with young people for young people, which provides opportunities to work with other Members of Youth Parliament from around the UK. 

More information is available here:

Barnet has two Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) who are elected by 11 to 18 year olds from across the borough. During their 2 year term of office MYP’s work with council decision makers, elected members (councillors) and other young people on the issues of greatest concern to their constituents and represent them at a national level.

Barnet Members of Youth Parliament

  • campaign on their chosen election issue throughout their term
  • are a member of Barnet’s Children and Young Peoples Board and attend council committees to put forward the views of young people
  • represent Barnet young people at regional, national and sometimes international events
  • take part in an annual debate in the House of Commons chamber, chaired by the speaker of the House of Commons.
  • debate and then vote to decide the top two issues which will become the UK Youth Parliaments priority campaigns for the year ahead
  • have access to other events run by the British Youth Council

Barnet’s Members of Youth Parliament are Elysse Adil (campaigning on preventing knife crime) and Isaac Reuben (campaigning on supporting LGBT+ students in schools.)

Message from Isaac Reuben, Barnet MYP explaining how to register to vote:

“Although you can’t vote in most UK elections until you turn 18, you can register to vote when you’re 16. It takes five minutes!”

Register to vote

It takes five minutes, Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Go to gov.uk/register-to-vote
  2. Enter your details
  3. You’ll need your National Insurance Number, which should have been sent to you via post three months before your 16th birthday
  4. That’s it! You’ll be sent confirmation through the post and when you turn 18 you’ll be able to vote for MPs, councillors and other representatives.

Barnet Youth Ambassadors

Barnet Youth Ambassadors are elected by young people on the basis of their chosen campaign. They serve a 2 year term and chair Barnet’s Youth Board as well as being members of Barnet’s Children and Young Peoples Board.

They also feedback the views of Barnet young people to council committees and to elected members and act generally as a means to inspire other young people to take part in the council's youth participation offer.

Our current Youth Ambassadors are Deetya Pardasani (campaigning on drug prevention) and Ania Said (campaigning on enrichment offers in schools and mental health) 

More about our current members