Main heading

Youth Parliament - What Does it all Mean?

Candidates
The 2 people from each locality elected by the delegates to 'stand' for election, they will be asked to prepare and give a speech to the delegates on Election Day stating why they think they should vote for them.

Citizenship
A good Citizen is a person who is involved in the lives of the local community and helps it develop and grow in a positive way.

Constituency
Cheshire has three Constituencies East, Mid & West. Each area contains 2 localities…Macclesfield & Congleton are in East, Vale Royal and Crewe & Nantwich are in MID…Chester & Ellesmere Port & Neston are in West.
 
Delegates (Voters)
The 12 people from each locality chosen to attend election day at County Hall to cast 1 vote for one of the four candidates. Delegates then have an important role to play back in their localities by being part of the YIN & YIG!
 
Democracy
A process where a group of people or population chooses it’s leaders. The leaders represent the views of the young people Democracy is a way where the majority of the people have control over the decisions being made on their behalf.

Deputy MYP
A Deputy MYP has similar duties to an MYP and stands in for the elected MYP when they are not available. A Deputy is part of the Cheshire UKYP Team with countywide and Regional Responsibilities bringing the views and feelings of young people to Cheshire-wide & regional UKYP meetings.

Hubs
Centres where youth workers are based providing information, support & advice & activities to young people in the local community. There is a hub in each locality. Hubs will also help to support the YIGS & YINS

Hustings
A speech made by all candidates to the voters (delegates) The speech should state why the candidate should be elected (Vote for me because…) and what they would do if they were elected.

Locality
Cheshire is split up into 6 Localities…Chester, Crewe & Nantwich, Vale Royal, Ellesmere Port & Neston, Congleton, Macclesfield. There will be 14 young people from each locality at the Election Day.

MYP
This stands for Member of Youth Parliament…A young person who is elected to represent Cheshire young people’s views feelings and opinions. In Cheshire there are 3 MYP’s – each one representing East, Mid, West areas. MYP’s are part of the Cheshire UKYP Team.

UKYP
This stands for United Kingdom Youth Parliament

Vote
To cast a Vote means you make a choice on Election Day. Delegates and Candidates have only one vote each to elect an MYP. The votes are counted and whichever candidate gets the most votes becomes an MYP. This is part of the Democratic Process.

Y.I.G
This stands for Youth Issues Group…Young people and adults meet together to find ways to make services that work with young people and activities better for young people in their area….This is called Joint Decision Making.

Y.I.N
Youth Issues Network …Young people getting together on their terms to share ideas, thoughts and opinions about things that matter to them. This can be done in different ways, meetings, events, and activities to include as many different young people’s views as possible. Youth workers will help young people with the skills needed to get their point across to adults. The YIN to have a voice and be listened to.

Youth Voice Team
Youth Workers who support young people Cheshire-wide in getting their voices heard! They also work with the young people who make up the Cheshire UKYP Team