The BCP Youth Forum is open to all young people aged from 11 to 19 who either live or go to school in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole. There are also opportunities for members up to 25 years old if they have SEND or care experience. This opportunity provides local young people with the chance to shape projects, debate, contribute to consultations, and access a range of local, regional and national opportunities.

They meet online and in person, usually on a Wednesday evening.

In the last 12 months our Youth Forum has:

• been part of the ‘Bus back better’ consultation
• participated in a series of sessions to help shape our Local Plan
• explored the work of Active Dorset and helped inform the Physical Engagement Strategy
• informed how the Arts University Bournemouth utilise social media to engage with young people
• prioritised and discussed current papers going to Overview and Scrutiny to help the Members of Youth Parliament prepare for attending the meetings
• attended South West regional conventions to represent the local area
• contributed to the Harbourside Park Masterplan
• debated the topics identified nationally for the House of Commons Debate on Health and Well-Being
• informed the Connected Communities Team’s engagement on Covid Recovery Projects
• contributed to conversations about proposals for Youth Services transformation
• explored the development of a vision for our Children’s Services
• designed, developed, and delivered the Youth Fund Project

UK Youth Parliament

Nationally, the UK Youth Parliament is run by the British Youth Council. It gives 11 to 18 year olds a chance to use their voice in creative ways to bring about social change.

Every other year, young people in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole elect:

• two members of UK Youth Parliament (MYP)
• two deputy members of Youth Parliament (DMYP)

To stand in the Youth Parliament you must be between the ages of 11 and 18 and either live or go to school in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole.

Our members represent our area at a local, regional and national level.

They attend national events throughout the year including the UK Youth Parliament's annual sitting and the annual House of Commons debate.

They will also:

• listen to marginalised groups
• organise events
• meet MPs
• lobby for change
• organise campaigns and appear in the media.
• attend Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny meetings as co-opted members.

Over the last 18 months, the exiting MYPs launched the POP Cards resource pack they had developed and designed in October 2021.

In March 2022, the 2022 to 2024 our UK Youth Parliament members were elected by over 6,000 local young people. Following their induction they have now outlined their priorities and have developed their campaigns. These include:

• non binary friendly school uniform policy
• elected member engagement with young people
• homophobic bullying
• raising awareness of SEND
• rethinking schools approach to bullying
• access to British Sign Language lessons for young people
• tackling street harassment
• increasing cultural awareness and inclusion in schools

Members of the Youth Parliament attend the BCP Youth Forum are responsible for running the BCP Youth Fund, where they are awarding funding to local organisations making positive differences to young people's lives.

Make your mark champion

Available to anyone living or going to school in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole we've introduced a new opportunity to campaign locally on issues affecting local young people.

This involves an opportunity to link with national work and lasts for a year each February.

Children’s rights and engagement media ambassador

We’re looking for content creators, journalists and social media champions aged between 13 and 18 (or 25 with SEND/care experience) to help develop stories about and for young people.

For more information please email participation@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.