Local Students Ask Big Questions at Youth Assembly with Bridget Phillipson
Students Ask Big Questions at Youth Assembly with Bridget Phillipson
by Liz Todd
On 4th July 2025, 32 young people and young adults met with local MP and Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, MP. They organised and chaired a Youth Assembly in Houghton-le-Spring at St Michael and All Angels' Church during which they put forward four asks to the Secretary of State and invited her response. The young people were from Kepier, Burnside Academy, Eppleton Academy Primary School, Gillas Lane Primary Academy, Newbottle Primary Academy, St Thomas More Catholic High School, University of Sunderland Student’s Union, West Denton Primary School and St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School.
In the weeks leading up to the Assembly, volunteers from Space4 and school staff helped young people from across Tyne & Wear Citizens to listen to their classmates and fellow students in order to understand what issues were impacting young people locally and nationally. The young people formed these issues into asks that could be put to Ms Phillipson.
The Assembly was chaired by young people from Kepier, St Thomas More and the University of Sunderland Student’s Union. Banners made by local young people adorned the church. One young person and her mum had the role of timekeepers with a loud bell - to make sure that the meeting kept to good time and no one spoke beyond their allocation. Only 3 adults spoke during the whole assembly – and almost all the young people attending the assembly were the speakers. Ms Phillipson was introduced to two members of each institution present and agreed to have a photo taken with them all. The young people put four topics to Ms Phillipson and asked her to commit to action:
Early Years Provision
Our young people asked about Sure Start: whether she would pilot a new scheme like this in Houghton and if the young people could help co-design the centre. Ms Phillipson told us to “watch this space” for an announcement on early years provision. We were thrilled to see the Department for Education (DfE)’s announcement on 6th July, confirming the Government’s Best Start for Life strategy, including Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority area. We have welcomed this as a step forward but young people still would like to be involved in decisions about the hub locally especially in how it can be made accessible to all.
Racial Equity in Education
Ms Phillipson was asked if she would work with us on our Racial Equity in Education campaign. She committed to introducing the young people to the appropriate civil servants in the DfE to follow up on the asks raised during the Assembly particularly on curriculum reform.
Mental Health in Schools
Our young people have played a leading role in making mental health a clear commitment of government policy, through their campaign to get school-counsellors in all schools in England. With other young leaders across the Citizens UK network, there will be a Parliamentary Party in Westminster alongside Sir Alan Campbell, MP to celebrate this and the role of young people in shaping it. Young people asked Ms Phillipson if she would do her best to attend our celebration if her diary allows. She agreed to do her very best to attend.
Local Democracy
The young people asked Ms Phillipson if she would commit to meeting with them regularly, and within the next 6 months, so those in her constituency have a route to raise concerns and work with her on real solutions – and she agreed.
We were all really delighted to meet with her and with her response. Young people, particularly those of her own constituency, hope this is the beginning of a relationship where they can work together on issues that are important to them. We hope that young people from more schools will engage with the Minister and their MP.
After the meeting, young people said they felt happy and proud of what they had done. One said it was nerve wracking but for a good cause. Another said they felt grateful that they got to speak. Someone else said that it was good everyone was helping each other so we can sort things out. The young people wanted things to be different, happy that they were ‘giving it a go even though we are not sure of everything’.
Ms Phillipson seemed to really enjoy the event. She said, “You have shone a national light on a really important issue. You have been doing some great work.”
Our meeting with Bridget Phillipson, MP was one of ten Youth Assemblies taking place across the country at the beginning of July.
Too often, we hear the narrative that young people have no say over the policies that affect their lives. Yet, one year from the General Election, on Friday 4 July, young leaders from across Citizens UK chapters took part in youth assemblies to share their positive visions for the future and what's next for their communities on campaigns such as housing, youth safety, mental health and more.