Year 9 student Martha leads the way as a voice for young people

We would like to commend and congratulate Year 9 student, Martha, for her exemplary work in representing the voices of young people across the region.

As an elected member of the East Sussex Youth Cabinet for 2024-26 and representative in the UK Youth Parliament for Lewes and Wealden, Martha continues to demonstrate a commitment to driving positive change and making a difference in her community.

The East Sussex Youth Cabinet (ESYC), consisting of young leaders aged 11 to 18, works on the priorities voted for young people across the county through the Make Your Mark ballot. As a result of the vote in Spring 2024, the ESYC has identified two key areas to focus on through their campaigns:

Health and Wellbeing:

• User testing online support for young people who need to access help with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
• Hosting a Mental Health conference for Year 7 students across the county.
• Recording podcast episodes with professionals and services that support children and young people’s health and wellbeing.

Employment and the Economy:

• Recording podcast episodes featuring services supporting young people with apprenticeships, work experience, and employment opportunities.
• Promoting and producing PSHE resources for schools across the county.

As a UK Youth Parliament member, Martha continues to be a leading voice for change, representing the needs of young people not only within East Sussex, but on a national stage. In October, Martha travelled to Warwick University to participate in the UKYP Annual Conference. There, she collaborated with other young people to discuss the new UKYP Manifesto and engaged in presentations and debates about the most important issues for young people currently across the UK.

Earlier this term, Martha and two fellow Members of Youth Parliament represented their peers at the House of Commons, engaging in debates on Votes at 16, Period Dignity, Political Education, Living Wage and Public Transport. They also got a personal mention by Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde, who named and thanked them for their commitment to representing the young people across our county - all 44,000 of them!

Reflecting on the experience, Martha said:

“I have loved every minute of this role. I have been able to meet so many unique but likeminded people from across the county; have been able to visit places that I could have only dreamed about and been able to represent the people around me that matter the most. 

So, thank you. I couldn’t have got to where I am right now without your support. And I will continue to do my absolute best to create a better future and to champion Youth Voice.” 

In addition to her work with the Youth Cabinet and UKYP, Martha is an active member of Beacon Academy Student Council, where she is passionate about gathering and representing the views of her fellow students.

We applaud Martha’s passion, leadership, and the positive influence she is having on her peers, local communities, and the wider public. We look forward to seeing her continue to lead with dedication and enthusiasm, bringing fresh perspectives to youth voice initiatives and helping shape a brighter future for young people.

For more information or to contact ESYC or UKYP, please email participation.team@east-sussex.gov.uk or visit East Sussex Youth Cabinet | East Sussex County Council.