This week, we welcomed 30 young people to our Bexley Campus for this year's Campaigning Summer School. Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, designed the three-day course for 16-18 year olds to engage them in politics and campaign for change within their own communities. She provided a hands-on insight into the process of political and social campaigning.
The students heard from a number of guest speakers and were given the opportunity to learn about a career in public affairs, propose their own ideas for bills to be passed in Parliament and plan their own campaigns.
Student attendee Isabelle Gordon-Salem said: "The Summer School has been really insightful. I've learned a lot from all of the sessions and have loved the entire experience."
Ohemaa, student, added: "I didn't know a lot about politics and Parliament before, but now I understand the process of Parliamentary ping-pong and the roles that the Commons and Lords play in passing bills."
Several guest speakers delivered sessions throughout the event. To name a few:
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Lord Simon Woolley of Woodford - Founder and Director of Operation Black Vote and Trustee of Police Now
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Zainab Asumramu - Elect Her Programme Coordinator
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Anthony Okereke - Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich
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Katie Perrior - Chair, iNHouse Communications
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Christine Quigley - Director at Grayling
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Martin Angus - Local Government Association
A wide breadth of experiences and careers were explored through these sessions, with students getting the opportunity to hear the career stories of the speakers and get advice on how to get involved in campaigns and politics.
We were delighted to host this year's event and we look forward to working further with MP Abena Oppong-Asare and her team on future events that inspire and engage young people.