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Rochdale Borough Youth Cabinet

member goes international

Rochdale Borough Youth Cabinet member We interviewed Georgia about her role as a local
Georgia Jones, 17, took her role international in youth cabinet member, her recent trip to Malta and
2019, not only representing Rochdale, but the whole her ambitions for the future.
United Kingdom at the annual Model European
Parliament conference. What started your interest in politics?

Currently a second-year student at Rochdale Sixth At the start of college my friends said they were
Form College studying A-level law, English language going to get involved with the cabinet, so I decided
and psychology, Georgia’s enthusiastic work in her to go with them. Over the last year, I’ve just got very
spare time has opened many doors and opportunities into it.
for her.
I’m very passionate about the environment and We also had Mental Health Awareness Week in May I got involved by going to Youthforia, an event hosted
Whilst she has only been a Rochdale Borough Youth working to tackle climate change, as well as 2019 where we campaigned about tackling body at Rochdale Town Hall where about 130 young
Cabinet member for just over a year, she has already educating others on the environment. I was able to image and the impact social media has on this, and people from across the North West came together to
made an impact, helping to make changes locally and shadow the Environmental Management team at we’re currently planning for the knife crime action share resources and campaign ideas. I met the
nationally. Green Lane for a day. They said they’re willing to do a week in March 2020. We’ve been involved in lots of organiser, we discussed European Youth Parliament
few projects together, which I’m hoping to start. other things too outside of Rochdale like the Greater and the conference, and I thought it sounded
Run by Rochdale Youth Service, the Youth Cabinet Manchester Youth Combined Authority. interesting. I emailed him afterwards, and he said I
supports the Member of UK Youth Parliament for What have you achieved as a youth cabinet had a place!
Rochdale Borough in their manifesto. It also has member? We all just throw out ideas at meetings, debate the
other roles in which young people from Rochdale are ideas, plan it out and then act. I was very nervous because I didn’t know what I
represented locally and regionally, can feedback to I’ve been a youth councillor at Rochdale Council needed to do or how much I needed to research. I
key decision makers and put motions forward for the and a member of the youth cabinet since December Apart from climate change, what else are you was going on my own too, so that was
adult cabinet. 2018. I was elected as a Pioneer of Sustainable Hope passionate about? nerve-wracking.
(POSH) Ambassador for the borough by the other
The Model European Parliament (MEP) is a cabinet members because of my passion for My interests are very much international at the What are your future plans?
leadership programme for youths aged 16-19 in campaigning about the climate. moment, but a big one is human rights. There’s a lot
the EU member states with the aim of giving an about immigration and asylum seekers, especially I’m swayed more towards law than politics, but my
insight into how the European Parliament works. As a POSH representative, I have contacted the IT in America: how they’re treated over there at the end goal is to be a legal advocate for the European
The programme develops political awareness and an services at the council about using Ecosia [a search borders interests me. Court of Human Rights, hopefully working with
understanding of common issues, as well as providing engine which donates 80% or more of its profits to European Parliament. I would have to go to
knowledge about EU institutions. non-profit organisations that focus on reforestation] There’s a Human Rights Festival being planned in Strasbourg in France as that is where the human
as a search engine across the local authority, instead Manchester for 2021. The organisers are trying to rights court is based, but I’d love to live in France
Their most recent conference, held in Malta over a of Google. get all the local areas involved and they visited anyway.
week in November 2019, saw Georgia debate with Rochdale to get some thoughts from us about what
the ‘Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender We have also received funding to get recycle bins in we’re proud of as a very multicultural town. Why is it important for youths to be involved in
Equality’, questioning gender-based discrimination more centres, purchase recycle boxes for crisp politics?
and how it still affects many young people today. She packets, and I have taken part in litter picks. How was your trip to Malta for the MEP
also discussed whether political gender quotas are conference? We need to be aware of what is happening, not only
the solution to ensure fairer representation. When I first joined, the youth cabinet organised a in the UK, but internationally. It will hopefully fuel our
‘Week of Action’ – a mental health campaign aimed at The trip was such a wonderful experience. I’m keen generation to change the problems current parties
The committee was so impressed with Georgia that raising awareness and removing the stigma to make a positive change for young people’s futures aren’t fighting for.
she was recommended for the position of Committee surrounding mental health issues. Mental health was and this is going to give me a great opportunity to do
President for 2020. the number one issue in the borough in the 2018 this. I am so honoured to be asked to be Committee Rochdale Borough Youth Cabinet meets every Tuesday,
Make Your Mark ballot, organised by Youth President. I made some wonderful friends, and I’m 6pm-8pm, at Rochdale Town Hall. With 17 current
She will next be attending a MEP conference later Parliament, showing how important this issue is to really thankful for the opportunity. active members, new members are welcome.
this year in November, hosted in Bulgaria. local young people.

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