November 2022: Thurrock Youth Cabinet represented at UK Youth Parliament Annual Sitting

Lionel speaking in the House of Commons Thurrock Council’s Youth Cabinet is a group of 11 to 18 year-olds who work to make Thurrock a better place for young people. The Youth Cabinet was set up to give the young people of Thurrock a voice. Youth Cabinet members regularly meet with councillors, council officers and other decision makers to give their views on: youth activities, school curriculum, mental health, plastic pollution, police and community safety, and much more!

Find out more about Thurrock’s Youth Cabinet online, and if you are a young person who lives in Thurrock or goes to school in Thurrock you can contact the team by emailing youthcabinet@thurrock.gov.uk

On Friday 4 November, Lionel Mazithulela, Thurrock Youth Cabinet’s Member of Youth Parliament (pictured above), attended the UK Youth Parliament House of Commons Annual Sitting.

Over 200 young people came together to participate in five topic debate sessions, with one of them being voted as the campaign for Youth Parliament for the next year. This was an amazing opportunity for Lionel to represent Thurrock Youth Cabinet and speak in parliament. The chosen champaign following the event is the cost of living crisis and health. Lionel can be seen in this short clip on the BBC (28 seconds in).

Lionel said: “It was an honour to be able to debate on the iconic green benches in the house of commons, events like this are paramount fire the change members of youth parliament are working towards and are indispensable in amplifying the voice especially in such contemporary issues as that were debated. I am happy to announce the priority campaign is cost of living and health with a vote of majority across MYPS I can assure you My work will remain topical and I will ensure all issues of my constituents are heard, shared and resolved with all the power I have”