With a government imposing deep cuts to services much needed by young people here in the South it is important that we make our voices heard. From EMA, to youth centres to tuition fees the Tory-led government has engaged in an assault on the livelihoods of today’s young people. Similarly, at a time when the Labour Party itself needs greater input from young people to truly represent their aims and aspirations I am pleased to say that a Kent Young Labour group has just been set up. We hope that this group will act as a platform for political debate, greater youth engagement as well as act as a campaigning force around the region.
I realised not so long ago that there was a huge amount of untapped potential among young people here in the South and particularly here in Kent. There was no cross-constituency group for young Labour people to meet, campaign and discuss as is present in many other areas in the country and as a result there was nowhere for young members of the Labour Party to work together. I met with four other Labour youth activists and we agreed to establish a Kent Young Labour group, open to everyone Labour Party member under the age of 27 and residing in a Kentish constituency. One month on and our first event is being organised and prepared, which we hope will act as a springboard for greater youth participation, all the more important at a time when there is a significant perception of political apathy among young people.
Our launch event will take place on Saturday 16th July from 10:30am-3:00pm at the Stone Court Hotel, 28 Lower Stone Street, Maidstone. We will hear speeches from Sadiq Khan MP as well as a campaigning workshop with chair of national Young Labour, Susan Nash . We hope this will be a great opportunity to encourage people who have joined the party, but are yet to get involved, to do so and meet like-minded people as well as listen to the fantastic speakers that we have on offer.
Where do we see the group progressing from there? Well we will hold a second meeting in a few months’ time, with the intention of getting along another shadow cabinet minister to speak as well as allow members to debate and discuss. But we will then look to campaign around Kent, mobilising young members to fight in key marginals around the area. Not only will this be of benefit to local Labour Parties, but we feel that this process will create a youth movement that will get more young people involved in politics which will be hugely positive for our political system.
But the group will, of course, only be as strong as its members, so we’re trying to let young people around the region know about the group and encourage them to come along to our launch event on the 16th which we hope will be exciting, enjoyable and inspire young people to campaign for the Labour Party and for their futures.
Rory Weal is Chair of Kent Young Labour
Join Kent Young Labour on Facebook by linking or follow them on Twitter
I realised not so long ago that there was a huge amount of untapped potential among young people here in the South and particularly here in Kent. There was no cross-constituency group for young Labour people to meet, campaign and discuss as is present in many other areas in the country and as a result there was nowhere for young members of the Labour Party to work together. I met with four other Labour youth activists and we agreed to establish a Kent Young Labour group, open to everyone Labour Party member under the age of 27 and residing in a Kentish constituency. One month on and our first event is being organised and prepared, which we hope will act as a springboard for greater youth participation, all the more important at a time when there is a significant perception of political apathy among young people.
Our launch event will take place on Saturday 16th July from 10:30am-3:00pm at the Stone Court Hotel, 28 Lower Stone Street, Maidstone. We will hear speeches from Sadiq Khan MP as well as a campaigning workshop with chair of national Young Labour, Susan Nash . We hope this will be a great opportunity to encourage people who have joined the party, but are yet to get involved, to do so and meet like-minded people as well as listen to the fantastic speakers that we have on offer.
Where do we see the group progressing from there? Well we will hold a second meeting in a few months’ time, with the intention of getting along another shadow cabinet minister to speak as well as allow members to debate and discuss. But we will then look to campaign around Kent, mobilising young members to fight in key marginals around the area. Not only will this be of benefit to local Labour Parties, but we feel that this process will create a youth movement that will get more young people involved in politics which will be hugely positive for our political system.
But the group will, of course, only be as strong as its members, so we’re trying to let young people around the region know about the group and encourage them to come along to our launch event on the 16th which we hope will be exciting, enjoyable and inspire young people to campaign for the Labour Party and for their futures.
Rory Weal is Chair of Kent Young Labour
Join Kent Young Labour on Facebook by linking or follow them on Twitter
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