Southend-on-Sea City Council is proud to announce that Jocelyn Ayao, Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), represented Southend at the House of Commons.
At the annual sitting of the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) in the House of Commons Chamber on Friday 28 February 2025, Jocelyn joined over 200 other Members of Youth Parliament from across the UK in an important day of debate and decision-making. Organised in partnership with the UK Parliament, this annual sitting allows young representatives to voice the concerns of their peers and influence national priorities.
During the event, Jocelyn delivered a passionate speech on the importance of political literacy, highlighting the need for greater education and engagement among young people. Jocelyn's speech can be viewed on YouTube (Jocelyn speech comments at 57:57).
Jocelyn Ayao, Southend-on-Sea City Council youth council member, said: "Last Friday, I had the incredible opportunity to represent the young people of Southend at the UK Youth Parliament sitting. In a day filled with passionate debate, we set key motions on issues affecting young people UK wide, ensuring that youth voices are at the heart of policy discussions.
"One of the most memorable moments was meeting the infamous Speaker of the House, who, as always, commanded the chamber with wit and authority! Engaging with someone who plays such a pivotal role in parliamentary democracy was extremely inspiring, reinforcing the importance of strong command within politics.
"Speaking on behalf of Southend's young people in such a prestigious setting was an unforgettable experience,one that has only reinforced my commitment to driving real change for young people across not only Southend but potentially the UK."
Key discussions focused on five topics from the newly established UKYP manifesto for the 2024-26 term, titled 'Shaping Our Future', 'Today Not Tomorrow'. Members debated and voted to determine the priority campaigns for 2025, selecting:
- UK Reserved Campaign: Lowering the voting age
- Devolved Campaign: Period dignity
As a dedicated youth representative, Jocelyn will work alongside decision-makers to drive progress in these priority areas, advocating for meaningful change on behalf of young people in Southend and across the UK.
For more information on Southend's Youth Council, visit their website.