Almost two years ago I stood with a group of other young people in the old Senate chamber in Stormont. The room was abuzz, the atmosphere electric, as we awaited the arrival of the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. 

The occasion? The official launch of the New Decade, New Approach agreement. The herculean achievement lauded by people and pundits on all sides of the community promised an end to the stalemate that for so long plagued our politics and a new beginning for our young people – a Northern Ireland where our politicians could work together for the benefit of all. 

Despite this new beginning and the promise of a better future for devolution, for me, something key was missing – and I wasn’t about to let it go. 

I’d found myself in this room, awaiting the arrival of one of the world’s most powerful men because of the UK Youth Parliament. Founded in 1999, the Youth Parliament gives young people across the UK a voice in decision-making, it places us in the ear of government and provides a vehicle to both create change and be heard. I’d spoken in the House of Commons (twice!) but somehow it all seemed to lead up to this moment – this one meeting, with one man where I had one question: “Where is our Youth Assembly?”

A few months earlier I’d met with then-Secretary of State, Julian Smith about youth issues in Northern Ireland. He’s someone who, in my experience, genuinely cared about NI and our people. However, his term of office to-do list was dominated by one task – getting devolved government back. 

In his first meeting with the Youth MPs of Northern Ireland, he asked us a question of mammoth proportions: “How do I restore Stormont and bring devolution back to Northern Ireland?” You can imagine as a group of teenagers we were flabbergasted – how would we even begin to answer the biggest question in our politics at that time? 

Then it hit me. “Give us a Youth Assembly,” I assuredly told the Secretary of State. Admittedly, I think he was confused at first. Then I explained. “Fill the chamber with elected young people. Have them debate the issues our politicians are failing to act on – or even debate, for that matter. Use the contrast to embarrass them back to work.” 

I’m, to this day, still not sure how much impact my bizarre solution had on the work that then began to create the Youth Assembly but it still makes for an interesting story. Scotland and Wales had a vibrant Youth Parliament and Youth Assembly, so why not us? Arguably, given our history, of all the jurisdictions, we were the most in need.

Our young people need a democratic forum in which to have their voices heard, a space to grow themselves while working to change the communities they represent for the better. In reality, of course, the goal isn’t to ’embarrass’ politicians; far from it. It’s about helping them to understand and address the issues most important to young people.

So, I read the text of the New Decade, New Approach Agreement, cover to cover, scanning for the words I desperately needed to see: “Youth Assembly.” They weren’t there. I’ve since been told this was because the wheels were already in motion, but at the time I was deflated. Northern Irish young people left behind again. 

When my moment with the man himself arrived, I had only one option, one question to ask: “Where is our Youth Assembly?” It almost didn’t happen. The Q&A ended without my raised hand chosen. Still, however, not content to accept fate, as the PM walked past me to make his exit, I blocked his path. 

“Prime Minister… a question.” Part of me regretted accosting the leader of the UK as soon as I had done it. But I was here now. I congratulated him on a wonderful agreement, thanked him and the Secretary of State on behalf of NI young people, but had to add that something was missing. His face fell. “Our Youth Assembly, Prime Minister. I’m a Youth MP and we’re the only devolved region that doesn’t have one – we who need it most.” 

His gleeful grin returned. The Prime Minister said he’d met with the Assembly Speaker about this very thing and promised me and the other representatives present that we would have our Youth Assembly and in this mandate of the Assembly. A quiet cheer went up from the others present – in particular those from the Northern Ireland Youth Forum who had been at the fore of calling for the creation of this institution for as long as I could remember.

I feel exceptionally proud to have played a small part in the creation of this game changing organisation for Youth Voice in Northern Ireland and seeing young people on Twitter applying in the last few weeks has been, if I’m honest, a slightly emotional experience. 

That’s my Youth Assembly story, which I hope will encourage other young people to make their own! Youth voice – from the Youth Parliament to founding the Secondary Students’ Union – has made me who I am today. It’s equipped me with skills, connections and stories that I’ll carry with me for life. 

A region of young people left behind for so long have been finally given equality with those across the Irish Sea. I urge every young person with a belief in a better Northern Ireland, a belief in a society that listens to its young people and a belief they too deserve to be heard to get involved.

The Youth Assembly promises to be more than just a talking shop. Our 90 ‘Youth MLAs’, aged 13-17, will even be divided into committees to look at how specific issues interact with young people in Northern Ireland in great detail – giving our Executive ministers a unique opportunity to hear from a representative group of young people who specialise in the topic they are discussing. NI has even gone further than the rest of the UK and has committed to allowing our young people to debate in the chamber twice a year – bringing youth issues, and our young people themselves into ‘the room where it happens’.

The first Youth Assembly members will be taking up their two-year term next month. In doing so, not only will they’ll be writing their own exciting stories, but they’ll be helping to write a more positive story for Northern Ireland as a whole.

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