Young people advise MPs on how to fix politics - update

Earlier this year participants on the UpRising leadership programme took part in an event to advise the Speaker's Conference - a committee of MPs who are investigating how Parliament can be made more representative. UpRisers are young people aged 19-25 year olds who are taking part in the UpRising leadership programme to develop their skills, networks and confidence to be leaders in their communities.

The Speaker 's Conference on Parliamentary Representation has now launched an online forum, open until Tuesday 23 June 2009, seeking views from the public on the following questions:

 * Why do people think that to succeed in public life they have to hide aspects of themselves?
 
* What would persuade you to represent your community?
 
* What is the best way to increase the representation of under-represented communities at Westminster?

http://forums.parliament.uk/speakers-conference

Comments from the forum will be considered by the Conference as it looks to find practical ways to tackle under-representation.
 
How the Conference works

The Speaker's Conference was established by the House of Commons to look into the reasons why there are not more women, disabled people and people from ethnic minority communities in the House of Commons. It has to:

* identify any particular difficulties people in these groups face in becoming Members of Parliament,
* to recommend ways of supporting them; and
* to recommend ways of tackling those barriers to their success.

Background on the UpRising leadership programme

UpRising is a new leadership programme being developed by the Young Foundation to support and train a new generation of public leaders. UpRising identifies, recruits, develops and supports 19 to 25 year olds to enable them to play a greater role in politics and public decision-making.

The aim is to create a pool of talented young leaders from a range of backgrounds who can transform their communities for the better and take up positions of power in public institutions. UpRising was launched in 2008 and is being piloted in the East London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Newham and Tower Hamlets. It will then spread across London and into other major cities across the UK. The programme has cross-party support with Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg serving as its patrons.

Elements of the UpRising leadership programme include: monthly learning sessions; a weekend residential; support and advice to set up a community campaign; one-to-one mentoring; learning visits; networking events and placements. As well as developing skills and networks, UpRising aims to create opportunities for young people to form strong ties and work together to serve their communities.

To find out more about UpRising visit www.uprising.youngfoundation.org

UpRising is supported by v, the youth volunteering organisation. For more information about v, visit www.vinspired.com