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A bit of background...

The concept of the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) originated from young people themselves. Back in 1996 at an event in Coventry entitled 'Heirs To The Millennium', young people challenged organiser, the then MP, Andrew Rowe, by telling him they felt that "nobody ever listens to us!" and "it will all be the same in ten years time!" 

Andrew took up the challenge, and through him, the NSPCC  sponsored a young person, Kate Parish, to develop a proposal for a UK Youth Parliament. 

A Steering Group was formed in 1998, the majority of the membership of this group and its Co-Chairs were young people with Andrew's support.  Eventually in early 2000 Lifelong Learning Minister Malcolm Wicks at the then Department for Education and Employment agreed to a member of staff, Peter Clarke (now employed as the UKYP Company Secretary), working full time on developing UKYP with Kate.

Here are some of the UK Youth Parliament's achievements...

1998 – Andrew Rowe MP presents a ten minute rule bill to the House of Commons calling for the creation of a Youth Parliament

1999-2001 - UK Youth Parliament launched at the House of Commons and first national sitting held in London

2004 – 90% of Local Authorities sign up to UK Youth Parliament

2005 – UK Youth Parliament works internationally to establish Youth Parliaments worldwide

2007 – PM announces intention to have Members of Youth Parliament sit in House of Commons chamber

2008 – Record voting turnout, as over half a million young people hit the ballot boxes to vote for their Members of Youth Parliament

2008 – Government announce sex and relationships education to become statutory as a direct result of UK Youth Parliament campaign

2009 – First UK Youth Parliament awards ceremony held in Parliament

2009 – MPs vote to allow Members of Youth Parliament to sit in House of Commons chamber

2010 – Ten year anniversary celebration