YOUNG PEOPLE can get to the heart of the community with a ‘Working for Your Community Summer School’ to be run by Odham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams this July.
Following the success of her inaugural summer school in 2014 and continuing her contribution to Get Oldham Working, Mrs Abrahams is looking to recruit another group of young people aged 18-24.
The summer school will run from July 20-31 and will help young people get involved with local groups and projects as well as see how politics impacts on daily lives.
Mrs Abrahams explained: “My idea is to help local young people develop their community action skills and gain useful experience by working on real community projects in Oldham.
“I also want to give them a behind-the-scenes look at how politics affects everyone’s daily life.
“Too many people say to me ‘politics has nothing to do with me’ or ‘I don’t vote because politics doesn’t affect me’.
“But politics affects almost every aspect of our lives. This is why I want to give local young people the chance to see the links between everyday issues and the role elected councillors and MPs play in addressing them.
“The group will also gain some real work experience about how to organise community-based campaigns with local organisations.”
On Tuesday July 21 the group will visit Parliament where they will have a tour and meet various politicians, researchers and advisors.
The young people will then be based in Oldham, spending their first week developing knowledge and understanding of community development theory and practice, campaigning skills and tools.
They will also define a campaign and a community project to work on in week two.
The second week will be spent working with local community organisations and charities to develop and refine the campaign they have identified.
Sessions will be delivered by various experts and leaders in community development, campaigning, communications, and politics.
Anyone wishing to register interest in the Summer School should send a letter of application with a curriculum vitae by email to abrahamsd@parliament.uk
The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Monday 15 June 2015.
All candidates must be aged 18-24 years and available for every weekday for the duration of the scheme. A person specification can be found at www.debbieabrahams.org.uk
