Virendra Sharma MP hosted the second annual Youth Summit yesterday with more than 100 Sixth Form students from Elthorne Park High School, a local secondary school in his constituency. He was also joined by Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, the Ealing Council Cabinet Member for Decent Living Incomes. Councillor Mahfouz’s portfolio consists of Covid-19 recovery, community development, post 16 education, apprenticeships, skills, employment, further education and higher education amongst other responsibilities.
The Ealing Southall MP welcomed the students and later answered their questions with Councillor Mahfouz on issues that matter most to them. The students were then placed in six groups of policy areas to discuss, debate, and write up a three-point manifesto which they later presented to all attendees. The topic areas included citizenship & political representation, education, physical health, mental health, economy-economic inequality and environment.
Opening the Youth Summit, Virendra Sharma MP said: “You have immense energy, skills and ideas to shape and improve society and our environment today. The pandemic has maybe forced you to grow up faster than you would have. So, it is important now more than ever that elected representatives empower you to be active citizens and to voice your concerns. By taking action in your local communities, you will gain skills and experiences that will help you achieve great things after school life in further education and employment.”
