Active Citizens: How you can get involved

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Active Citizens How you can get involved
Put your faith into action! Putting your faith
into action doesnt just mean voting in an
election. There are lots of ways that you can
become an active citizen and you dont have to
wait until youre old enough to vote to have your
say!
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Active Citizens How you can get involved
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) is a youth
organisation run by young people. There are 369
seats for elected MYPs (Members of Youth
Parliament), all aged 11-18. MYPs are usually
elected in annual youth elections throughout the
UK. Any young person aged 11-18 can stand or
vote. In the past two years one million young
people have voted in UK Youth Parliament
elections. Once elected MYPs organise events and
projects, run campaigns and influence decision
makers on the issues which matter most to young
people. All MYPs have the opportunity to meet
once a year at the UK Youth Parliament Annual
Sitting.
More information here http//www.ukyouthparliamen
t.org.uk/
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Active Citizens School Councils

• A school council is group of students who are
  elected to represent the views of all pupils and
  to improve their school.
• Each year, every class will normally elect 2
  representatives to be members of the school
  council.
• The council will then meet to elect officers such
  as
• Chair
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• In a larger school (more than 400 pupils) there
  may be separate year councils, with a large
  meeting of the whole school council once a term.

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Active Citizens School Councils
Whether it is changing the school uniform or
redesigning the lunch menu, a good school council
is one that represents the views of all students
and gets things done.

• These are some things that make a council
  effective
• Regular meetings
• A council that is not too big
• Class/Form councils that meet regularly
• Good communication between representatives and
  their class
• Training for school council members
• Smaller groups (subcommittees) working on
  specific events or issues
• A bank account or budget (however small)
• Annual evaluations

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Active Citizens Write to your local MP
Writing to your local MP, councillor or MEP
(Member of European Parliament) is a great way to
make your voice heard. MPs are there for you to
tell them what issues matter to you they
receive many personal letters from their
constituents.
You can find out who your local representatives
are by visiting www.writetothem.com When you
enter your postcode, Write To Them will then list
all your local representatives. You can click on
any name and a template letter will appear, which
you can fill in and send from the website.
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Active Citizens Campaign

• During a general election you can help the local
  candidate you want to support by
• Joining the party
• Canvassing
• Campaigning with them
• This can be a great way to get involved in your
  community and to find out more about the values
  of the different parties.

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Active Citizens Volunteer
In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis asks us to put
our faith into action by doing good works
"Whenever our interior life becomes caught up
in its own interests and concerns, there is no
longer room for others, no place for the poor.
Gods voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of
his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do
good fades. Doing charitable work is a great
way to put your faith into action, building a
community and showing what matters to you. By
volunteering you are answering your Christian
call to participate in society and foster
community.
How could you become a more active citizen?
Have you got talents that you could use to
serve your community?