This year’s members of the UK Youth Parliament have been elected in the biggest ever turnout at the polls across the district – more than a 5% rise on last year.

Ossett High school student Emma Fletcher, aged 12, and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary pupil Chandler Burns, aged 11, were the successful candidates with 1,997 and 1,401 votes respectively.

More than 9,000 11 to 18 year olds voted resulting in a 35.5% turnout.

Matthew Kent, from Horbury school, and Eoghan Lamont from Outwood School will act as this year’s deputies. Voters once again had the choice to vote by ballot, text or internet resulting in a year on year improvement of turnout.

On the night Emma said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to become involved in their communities and I hope I can use this position to work with young people and help improve the areas we live in.”

Chandler added: “I feel honoured to be able to represent Wakefield’s young people on a national level and want to thank supporters and staff from the Council’s Young People’s Service who have given us lots of support.”

Fifteen young people, including three from Sacred Heart Primary School, Hemsworth, had put themselves forward as candidates to help young people have a bigger say in decision making in the district. And Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School had a 100% turnout.

The two successful candidates will join more than 400 other elected MYPs from across England and have the chance to express their views and concerns at the highest level. Events they will be attending in the near future include:-

• Saturday 29 March 2008: Sex and Relationships Conference at the Royal Armouries, organised by Yorkshire and Humber Members of Youth Parliament, with funding from 'V' and the Youth Opportunities fund
  
  
• Friday 2 May 2008: Members of Youth Parliament are debating 6 main UK Youth Parliament Campaigns in the House of Lords, chaired by Baroness Harman and probably televised
  
  
• 19-22 July 2008: the UKYP National Sitting at Exeter University.

In 2009 it is planned to have three MYPs and three deputies, one to represent each of the three Local Strategic Partnership areas that contain a Youth Development and Support Service hub.