A Girl Guide has her eyes set on Number 10 after attending a meeting to discuss women’s roles in politics.
Niamh Griffin, 15, from Oakwood, led a debate on how to encourage more young women to make their voices heard at an event organised by Ciara O’Connor, founder of young women’s organisation Emily Tree.
Niamh is a member of Girlguiding’s Youth Advocate panel, a group of 14 to 25-year-olds who discuss issues affecting girls to make positive changes.
She said: “I think feeling that your voice has some importance, that your views are going to get heard, is really important. It’s hard not to feel disengaged when issues affecting girls and young women are so often overlooked.”
Girlguiding is calling on politicians to listen to girls’ concerns ahead of the general election with its Girls Matter campaign.
The cross-party campaign featuring eight calls for change, including a guarantee that women will be equally represented in Parliament.
The Emily Tree aims to get girls and young women interested in, politics, running engagement sessions in schools and communities, alongside internship programmes at the Houses of Parliament.
Ciara O’Connor, co-founder of the charity, said: “Both Girlguiding and the Emily Tree are passionate about increasing the number of women involved in politics. It was great to meet these politically engaged young women, and discuss the practical steps both charities
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here