The UKYP Annual Sitting

UK Youth Parliament: Making Our Mark.

22nd24thJuly2011

Annual Sitting Diary 2011

Friday 22nd July

WehadanearlystartonFridaymorning.Ealingwouldbetravellingto theannualsittingonaminibusthatwastodepartfromHillingdonat around8am.WewerethefirstthereandwaitedforHillingdonand Hounslowarrival.Wheneveryonehadassembledwejumpedonthe busnotforlongthoughbeforeaquickstopatUxbridgestationfor waterandsomepapersandwepickedupHaringey.Despitebeing encouragedbytheyouthworkerstobeginthesocialisingand networkingonthebusmostofusfellintoiPodstuporsrousingonly whenwereachedtheWarwickservicesforbreakfast.Althoughhe enjoyedafullEnglishbreakfastAlfiehadthebrightideaforustobuy adozenboxofKrispyKremedoughnutsthatwethenspentthe journeytakingpicturesofandtextingthemtoourfriendswhowere travellinginlesslovelyconditionssuchasRhammelonhisstuffy coach.Afterthebreakeveryonewasconsiderablylivelierandvery muchexcitedaboutourarrivalinLeeds. WearrivedaroundnoonandSylvesterdroppedusoff.Wesawafew friendlyfaceswalkingaroundcampusandthatwasveryexciting.Weluggedourbagsthroughthecourtyard totheregistrationareaandgrabbedournametags,checkedoutwhichworkshopsweweretakingpartin,got atshirtandourmercbagswiththeprogrammesinthem.IfoundoutIgotmypreferredworkshoponeof engagingwithyoungpeoplewithphysicaldisabilities.Wewentuptoourratherluxuriousroomsandputon ourtshirtsreadyfortheopeningceremony. MostofLondonmetuptodothetourofthecampusandtogetourpackedlunch.Wehadtogotoahallatthe bottomofthecampusforourregionalmeetingandalsofortheopeningceremony.Aftertheregionalmeeting westayedinourseatsandwaitedfortheotherregionstojoinusfortheopeningceremony.Itwaspretty exciting;therewasinformationabouttheweekendasawhole.ThePGsallintroducedthemselves andthenwehadtwospeakers.ThefirstwasJohnBercowwhotalkedabouthowmuchhe

AnnualSitting2011

Friday22ndJuly

supportedourorganisationandhowexcitedhewasforUKYP@HoC2011.Unfortunatelywhoeverhadmade thePowerPointhadspeltMr.SpeakersnamewrongJonBercrown.WethenhadIbyKnilltospeak,whoisan Auschwitzsurvivor.Herstorywassomoving,shetalkedforalmostanhourandeveryonewascompletely captivated. AftertheceremonywewentintoourworkshopsandIwasatadnervousIwasntreallysurewhattoexpect. ThecharityWhizKidscameintorunthesessionandtheybroughtsomeoftheirambassadorswhoareall physicallydisabled.IwantedtodothissessionfortworeasonsfirstbecauseoneofourEYPCcampaignsis regardingSENandalsobecause,honestly,Ithinkeveryonestrugglesalittlewithinteractingwithphysically disabledpeopleandIwantedtobecomebetterinformed.Firstweintroducedourselvestothewholegroup usingthesignlanguageweweretaughtthenwesplitintogroups.MygroupwaswithSamwhosemotorskills areimpairedandcantspeakproperlysohismumwastheretohelpspeakforhimbuthealsohadthisreally clevermachinethatcouldspeakforhim.Heandhismumtoldusallaboutwhatitsliketobedisabledina societybuiltforablebodiedpeople.Weworkedthroughaworksheetthatwentalongthelinesofdiscuss issuesbehindaccessingschool,accessingleisureactivities,accessingpoliticsetc.Samandhismumtoldloads ofreallysadstorieslikethefactthateventhoughtheygotooneofthebestschoolsinthecountryintermsof cateringfordisabledpeopleitstillisntnearadequateandsomeparentsdrivehoursadayinordertotake theirkidstoaschoolthatwillaccommodatedisabledchildrenandhowwhenatschoolmanyteacherswont movetheirlessonstoaccessiblepartsofthebuildingsoifyoucantaccesstheroomitstaughtinyoucantdo thesubjectandinpracticallessonsyoucantgetinvolved.WetookabreakandIwenttotalkto Samandhismum.Wechattedaboutschoolandotherthings.IthenaskedSamtoshowmehow histalkingmachineworked.Hehasalittlesilverchiponhisforeheadandwhenhemovesits likeamouseandhecantypeoutsentences.Itsbasicallyaregularcomputersoheshowedme someofhispicturesandhismusiclibrary,whichhadGleemusicandthatwascoolItoldhimI lovedGleetooandweplayedsomesongs.Wewentbackintotheroomandfedbackon everythingwedid.AttheendSally,thecoordinator,passedaroundapetitionforustosignwhich ifitgetsenoughsignatureswillmeanthegovernmenthastoconsideraproposalforevery disabledchildtogetanindividualassessmenttofindthebestchairforthem.Whenthesessionwas overIwenttoseeSallyandItoldherhowmuchIlovedthesession.ItwasreallyinspiringandI thinkitwillinfluencethecampaignsIwilltryandgetinvolvedin,inthefuture. Aftertheworkshopsitwasdinnertimeandafterthatwehadtheoptiontogotoworkshopsabout politicswithsong,dance,theatre,trainers,spokenwordandcanvas.ButinsteadmostofLondon felttheyneededtogopracticeforourperformanceattheclosingceremony.Wedecidedtodoa StandByMe/Beautifulgirlsmedley.Itwasquitedifficulttoorganiseaswehadquiteacomplicated setupandalthoughDaniisverymusicalImnotatall!Wefinallygotitdoneandwentdownto watchthetalentshow.Itwasreallygoodandwesawabigvarietyofactsincludingdance,song andcomedy.Afterthetalentshowendedweallheadedbacktotheaccommodationand chattedabitaboutthe dayingeneralbefore beingchivviedbythe youthworkersbacktoourbedsforthe 11.30curfew.

AnnualSitting2011

Saturday23rdJuly

Saturday 23rd July

Wegottobreakfastearlysowecouldmakethemostof thedowntimebeforewhatweknewwouldbeabusy daykickedin.Atnineweheadedtooursecondregional meetingoftheweekend.Wechoseourmanifesto groups,Ichoseeducation,andthenwewerereminded ofourethicsworkshopsIwasonInternational Developmentwheredoourresponsibilitieslie? WewanderedovertoourworkshopsandthePGs runningitexplainedwhatwewouldbedoingwehad tocomeupwithastatementthatwouldbeincludedin ourmanifestobasedonanythingeducationrelatedthat hadnotalreadybeencovered.Ididmystatementon introducingpolicythatmeantthatHumanRights legislation,regardingtherightsofdisabledpeople beingabletoaccesseverythingofferedbyschoolsto ablebodiedpupils,wouldbemorestringentlyenforced andwherepossibletheywouldtryandconsultwith disabledpeopletoensureneedswerebeingmet.Once wehadwrittenourstatementwehadtofindapairand argueforourstatement.Thenbetweenthepairwehadtochoseoneormashthetwotogether.In mypairwedecidedtogoforwardwithmyschoolaccessibilitypolicy.Butaswejoinedupit becamemoreandmorecomplicated.Aversionofmystatementmadeitintothefinalroundand itwasdebatedagain.Theotherstatementinthefinalroundwasregardingempoweringcouncils tobeabletostepinanddirectschoolstodothingsthatthecouncilwantedthemtodo,including makingdecisionsabouthowtospendthebudgetandforcinginspection.Theywantedtocombine theirideawithmineandwhileIthoughttheirswasareallygoodoneIfeltweweremakingthe statementfartoobroadasitlumpedtogetherallkindsofdisadvantagedpupilsincluding economically,sociallydisadvantagedandmentallyillandphysicallydisabledwhichIfoundpretty offensive.AlthoughintheendmyideawasincludedinthefinalstatementweputforwardIwillbe honestinsayingIwascompletelyunsatisfiedwiththatsaidstatement. AfterthemanifestoworkshopKirstyandIwenttofindourethicsworkshop.International DevelopmentWheredoourresponsibilitieslie?seemedtobeteemingwithLondoners.OurPGs arrivedandtheybeganwithalittleinterpretativedancegamecalledBungaloo.Wethenhadfive postitnotesandwehadtorightdonewhatasMYPsweshoulddotohelptheinternational community.Wethenreadthemoutinturnsandpeoplehadtoshoutandcheertoshowsupport,it wentwellandgenerallypolicieseithersuggestingitwasoutsideourrealmofresponsibilityor thataconsultationwithyoung peoplewouldbecriticalfirst werethemostpopular.After thatwegotintopairsand wroteastatementonwhat,as UKYP,weshoulddo.Mineand AbiFoxsstatementwasthat wefeltweshouldgotoour constituentsandaskfortheir opiniononInternational RelationsandInternational

AnnualSitting2011

Saturday23rdJuly

Saturday cont
Developmentandtakethatto decisionmakerssothatyoung peoplehadtheirthoughtsincluded whendecisionaremadebecause theycannotexpressthemselvesin generalelections. Wetookabreaktograbsomelunch andlookaroundthemarketplace, whichwasacollectionof organisationsadvertisingwhatthey didsoforexampleWhizzKidswas there.AfterourlunchKirstyandI walkedbacktotheaccommodation onlytorealisewedforgottento signupforapaneldebatesowe wentbackandstuckournamesontheonlyavailablelist.Wehadafairlylonglunchandhada chancetochattosomeoftheMYPsfromtheotherregions,whichwasreallyinteresting. Theworkshopswerestartingagainafterlunchtoprepareuswithsomeinterviewingskillsforthe paneldebateslater.WebeganwitharoundofExtremeSplatwhichwasbasicallysplatwithmore actionsliketoaster,washingmachine,Bondandbang.Theactivitiesinthisworkshopwere designedtomakeusthinkabouthowtoaskquestionsinthepaneldebates.Firstthingwedidwas togetonepersonupandwehadtoaskthemquestions,likeapressconference.However,neither themnorusknewwhatweweretalkingabout.Ibeganwiththequestionwhydidyouputitinthe blender?andwehadaninterestingconversationabouttheincreaseinblendercrimesincethe incident..Werealisehowimportantitistoknowwhoyouarequestioningsoyoucanaskthemgood questions.Wehadafewmoreofthesepressconferenceactivitiesbutwiththepeopleaskingthe questionsknowingwhatitwasabout,justforpractice.Wethenmovedontoanactivitywherewe satinlinesandweregivenemotionstoplayandhadtospeeddate.Itgotveryloudandheatedat timeswhenemotionslikeangryandscarywerepairedorexcitedandemotional.AfterthatthePGs decidedtodoanotherpressconferenceandIwasputforwardtobetheonequestioned.Ileftthe roomforthemtodecideonwhatandwhenIcamebackinitsoonbecameclearitwasrelatedtomy opinionofprovisionfordisabledpeople.Itwasprettyscarybeinginterrogatedbysomanypeople andmadescarierwhenTimLoughtonslippedintowatchwhatweweredoing.Iwasnttooworried untilthePGtoldthegrouptomaketheirquestionsmoredifficult.MellissachallengedmesayingI hadreferredtonormalpeopleasopposedtoable bodied.IretortedthatshemighthavenoticedI hesitatedbeforeIsaiditbecauseIwasputonthe spotanditsdifficulttofindaphrasethatnooneis offendedbyhowever,Itakeitback,Imeantable bodied.IsawMrLoughtonchucklingatthatoutof thecornerofmyeye. Oncemyinterviewwasfinallyoverwehadnotime leftsoweheadedovertothepaneldebates.News hadbrokenjustthatmorningaboutthetragedyin theyouthcampinNorwayandoneofthe PGsgaveastatementaboutitandthen weheldatwominutesilencethatwas

AnnualSitting2011

Saturday23rdJuly

filmedbyITVtobeshownonthenewsthatevening.Then TimLoughtongaveaspeechaboutUKYouthParliamentand howimportantitisthatyoungpeoplearebeingrepresented andhowimpressiveourethnic,ageandgendermakeupis.Afterwardshetookquestionsfrom thefloorandtheneveryonewenttotherevariouspaneldebates.BythistimeIhadcompletely forgottenwhatIsignedupforsostuckwiththepersonnexttomeandstayedintheroom.Our panelwasmadeupofamemberoftheLabourparty,someonefromBYCandTimLoughton. Mostofthequestionsdirectedatthemwere,inmyopinionunfortunately,politicalandalotof ourtimewaswastedwithpartypoliticalfightingbetweenLoughtonandLabour.Ithoughtit wouldbemoreimportanttohavequestionsrelatedtoyoungpeople,opportunitiesforyoung peopleandthefutureofUKYouthParliament. Thedebatesendedatfivethirtyandthesilentdiscowasntuntilninesowehadplentyoftime fordinner,practisingfortheclosingceremony(again),gettingreadyandsomedowntime.The LondonregionallsattogetheratdinnerinordertowishValerieaveryhappybirthdayand watchhercuthercakeandafterdinnerweroundedeveryoneuptotakethemtothekitchensto practiceourStandByMeroutinewhichwegotdonequicklydespiteashortbreakinorderto seeifFunmiandNadeemcouldreallycatchMalteserswiththeirmouthswhenthrownbyAlfie. Everyonethengotreadyforthesilentdiscoandwandereddown.TheLondonregiongathered intoabitofagroupandstarteddancingtomusicthatwas,frankly,undanceworthy.Everyone slowlyarrivedandwedancedtosomereallygreattunesincludingapersonalfavourite,the Macarena.ItwasoveralltoosoonandnoonewantedthepartytoendsoweallranuptoAlfie andRhammelskitchenforalittlemoredancingandpartyingwithwhatseemedliketheentire region.Thelatecomerslikemyselfwhereneversureexactlywhathappenedbutwewere quicklyshooedthroughthedooranditwaslockedagaintokeepwhoout,wedontknow. EveryonegatheredroundtheT.Vfortheelevenoclocknewshopingwedmakeitontothenews butwecouldntgetittowork.Thatconsiderablyhelpedtheyouthworkersintheirsofar fruitlessattemptsofdispersingthegroup.EveryonelefttofindtheirownspotsinfrontofaTV. Alargegroupofuswenttomykitchen.ThoughwegotaTVworkingwerealisedbythetime AmyWinehousecameonwewouldntgetaspotsoweenjoyedourlastnighttogether. Rightoncuetheyouthworkerschivviedusofftobedagainandremindedustopackour bagsforthenextmorning.

Saturday cont

AnnualSitting2011

Saturday23rdJuly

Sunday 24th July

Wehadanotherearlymorning,breakfastwasat sevenandweneededtogetourbagspacked andoutofourroomsbynine.Afterbreakfast wedumpedourbagsintheminibusandheaded backtotherefectorytoenjoythelastbitofour freetime.WeweretakenbyDavidbacktothe mainhallforourregionalmeetinganddespite himtakingusontheveryscenicroutewegot thereinjustenoughtime.Wetooksomephotos asaregion,thePGsremindedusofwhatwas happeningthatdayandthenwewaitedforthe restoftheregionstojoinusfortheBigVote. Thiswaswerewewouldvoteonwhatwasto beincludedinUKYPsmanifesto.MYPscame upandreadthemanifestostatementthathad beendecidedthedaybeforeintheirgroups andgaveaspeechaboutit.Thenusingsome whizzycontrolpadswevotedyes,noor abstain.Unfortunately,giventhepremise seemedtobeareallygoodidea,inpracticeit didntworkoutatall.Thepeoplegivingthe speecheswerepassionateabouttheirpoints andgavebiasedinformation.Unlessyouknew alotabouteverydifferenttopicyoucameaway, onthemostpart,misinformed.Atonepointan MYPstoodupandsaidthesystemwasnt workingbecausetherewerenoconarguments andabravePGcameupandexplainedthat therewasntmuchtheycoulddobutthey wouldtryandamendthesituationpostevent. However,thebigexcitementwasthatduring thebigvotealltheMYPswereaskedtotweet andhashtag#ukyp11,whichwedidandwe got1%ofthetweets. AftertheBigVotewewentbacktoour manifestogroupstodiscusstheHouseof Commonsandhowwewouldgetthemessage toyoungpeopleacrossthecountrytovotefor whatweddebateintheCommonsin November.Inmygroupmostpeopleagreed schoolsandsocialnetworkingwouldbethe mosteffectivemethods.Wethenhadtowritea lettertoourMPonatopicalissueinourarea thatwouldbesentoffbyUKYP.

 AnnualSitting2011

Saturday23rdJuly

Sunday cont

IhadtoleavetheworkshopacoupleminutesearlyunfortunatelybecauseRhammelandIneeded tosetupforourperformanceattheclosingceremony.Weweretoldourperformancewouldbe happeningfirstandeveryonegotalittlenervousatthat.AlltheMYPssatdownfortheclosing ceremonyandDavidClarkecameonstagetowelcomeaveryspecialsurprise.KirstyandIwalked upandkickeditoffwithourdos.ThenDaniandRhammelwalkedupandstartedsingingStandBy Me,andthentherestoftheregion,groupbygroupwalkedupandjoinedin.Thesongcrescendod asthewholeregionwasuponstageandwehadtheaudienceclappingalong.Funmiwentintoher UKYPrapandweallendedscreamingUKYP,UKYP. Theclosingceremonywasreallyfun.Itwasntformal,insteaditreallyfeltlikeeveryonewassaying goodbyetoareallygoodweekend.Therewasshoutingandscreamingforeveryregion,applause forthePGs,RCs,BYCsandstaff.TherewasatalkfromNatashaEnglesandquestionslikeifyou couldbeanyanimalwhatwouldyoube. Wethenwentbacktothe refectorytopickupourpack lunchesandfillinour evaluationformsandsayour veryfinalgoodbyesaspeople rushedoffforearlytrains, planesandcoaches.Dani,Alfie, LawrenceandIhadalonger lunchwhilewewaitedfor Sylvestertoarrivewithour minibus.Sadlythetimetoleave cameandeveryonewaspretty sadthatitwasallover.

The UKYP Annual Sitting

UK Youth Parliament: Making Our Mark.