On 6th November we were delighted to welcome MP for York Central, Rachael Maskell, for a visit to our Creative Centre in York to meet with some of our media learners.

The group is currently working on a politics-led project, creating mock political parties and running their own campaigns, which will culminate in an election voted on by members of York City Council. Ms. Maskell spent the afternoon working with the group to learn more about how the country is governed, what makes a compelling campaign, and why fighting for what you believe in as a politician is the most important thing.

There was also chance for the learners to ask their own questions during the session, and there was passionate discussion in the room about subjects including how more young people can be represented in parliament, and the importance of increased female representation in government.

The group also shared some promotional videos they had made to bring their campaigns to life, which showed the issues that are important to them, and were met with praise from the MP.

Rachael Maskell MP says:

“It was fantastic to meet such an inspiring group of people in our city. I was so impressed by the way these students engaged with politics, and I am looking forward to hearing about what they achieve in the future. It is so important for me to hear the views of young people from right across the city, and I was impressed with their passion and grasp of the complex challenges facing us today.

United Response provides vital support to help with day-to-day living but also helps to instil confidence in these students. It was clear to me from this meeting the impact that their work is having.”

Lilly Sullivan, Learner at United Response says:

“Rachael Maskell’s visit was really informative and interactive. I liked that she answered all our questions and made everyone feel included. She was especially inspiring when talking about her experiences as a female MP.”

 Andy Bowen, Education Job Coach at United Response says:

“As their tutor, I was really impressed with how confidently the learners engaged with Ms Maskell. They asked insightful questions about women in politics and how young people can get involved in shaping the future of our democracy. The discussion was lively, thoughtful, and showed just how much the learners have grown in confidence and understanding through their studies.”

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Ms. Maskell, who was so generous with her time and gave in-depth, thoughtful answers to the questions asked. The group were clearly motivated and inspired by this, and with the passion in the room it was clear the session could have easily run for another couple of hours.

Special thanks to Service Manager, Simon Copper, for organising the day, as well as Senior Service Manager, Angela Bennett, who was instrumental in the event organisation.

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