Last Tuesday, the Head of Community Development Neetu Squire partnered up with Cheryl Armatrading from the Antoin Akpom Achievements Foundation and Tracy Renshaw from Walker & Son to provide 30 young people with a trip the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, in order to engage them in UK governmental politics.
The young people attending were all service-users of community groups with whom Leicestershire Cares have a strong supportive and collaborative relationship: the Somali Communities Parents Association (SOCOPA), the Freedom Youth Club, and the Highfields Centre.
The Westminster trip was a fantastic success! It was so rewarding, helping provide young people with a face-to-face insight into British governmental politics. I'd like to say a big thank you to Cheryl Armatrading, Tracy Renshaw, and Bradgate Bakery for all their support with this very special event.
Neetu Squire, Head of Community Development
SOCOPA supports Somali communities within Leicester City, including through adult English language classes, a food bank, homelessness support, and a drugs and alcohol addiction service.
The Freedom Youth Club provides a variety of evening sessions twice a week to support 13-19-year-olds, targeting primarily unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people and refugees.
The Highfields Centre is a community education and development centre that delivers youth sessions centred around creative & recreational activities, discussions and debates, sports, arts and trips, along with a varied creative arts programme and adult digital and English language skills classes.
The young people set off bright and early by coach to Westminster, where they split up into groups to receive guided tours of the Houses of Parliament.
On their tours, they passed the iconic outer steps where notable political figures such as Nelson Mandela delivered speeches to British MPs.
The young people were also able to take part in a parliamentary politics workshop, in which they were divided into party groupings and held a mock House of Commons debate.
Along with Cheryl Armatrading and Tracy Renshaw, the trip was supported by Bradgate Bakery, who kindly donated sandwiches for the young people’s lunch.
The Community Development Team is proud of its work establishing collaborative projects with businesses and community groups that empower young people to become politically engaged, conscientious citizens. We would like to express our enormous gratitude to the business partners and community groups whose generous support enables us to deliver events and trips that help create a safer, more inclusive Leicestershire where no one is left behind.
#TogetherWeCan
For more information about getting involved in our Community Development Work please contact:
Email: Neetu@Leicestershirecares.co.uk
Tel: 07834 181041
To learn more about our Community Development work, please click the links below:
#BagsOfHope | Leicestershire Cares
Fashioning a Beautiful Future | Leicestershire Cares
Leicestershire Cares Eggstravaganza Campaign 2022 | Leicestershire Cares