On the 26th March Uprising held one of their National Youth Debates in The Priory Rooms’ Main Meeting House. The evening event had over 130 young people talk directly to local parliamentary candidates, across all five main parties, on the issues young people care about.

The evening was one of eleven debates being held across the country on the same evening, as UpRising strive to increase youth involvement in current affairs and politics. More than 1000 young people grilled local politicians across the UK on the same night, as part of the first ever nationwide election debates for 16-25 year olds.

The panel for the Birmingham audience were; Rachel Maclean (Conservative, Northfield), Phil Simpson (Green, Edgbaston), Jess Phillips (Labour, Yardley), John Hemming MP (Lib Dems, Yardley), Clair Braund (UKIP, Ladywood) and Online Journalist and Lecturer at Birmingham City University, Paul Bradshaw. The enthusiastic audience asked them all hard-hitting questions about the economy, education, employment, immigration and the NHS. UpRising used the event to launch its new “My Voice My Vote” campaign to engage young people in the election, encouraging participants to register to vote and sign up 10 friends.

UpRising Youth Debate co-ordinator Nichola Twemlow said: “We were delighted so many young people got involved in the debates nationwide, showing stereotypes about an ‘apathetic generation’ are a tired old myth. UpRising organised the debates to show young people not just how politics influences them, but also how they can influence politics, giving them a national platform to do so. With only half of young people voting in 2010, there’s a real risk young people slide right off the political agenda unless they make their voices heard.”

UpRising is a UK-wide youth leadership development organisation. Their mission is to open pathways for talented young people from diverse and under-represented backgrounds. They equip them with the knowledge, networks, skills and confidence to fulfil their leadership potential, find new opportunities and transform the world around them through social action. UpRising’s patrons include Prime Minister Rt Hon David Cameron MP and the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Nick Clegg MP. Since 2008 UpRising have been delivering programmes across the country, with a growing alumni of over 650 young people. Due to the generosity of supporters, participants do not have to pay to attend any of the programmes.

Discover UpRising’s programmes on their website http://www.uprising.org.uk/