Health & wellbeing the biggest issue for young people in Brighton & Hove
Young people in the city have made their voices heard in a national survey of the most critical pressures they are facing in 2022.
More than 1,800 young people aged between 11 and 18 from Brighton & Hove took part in the UK Youth Parliament’s Make Your Mark national ballot. Each voted on which current issues they think are impacting young people the most.
The regional results, published on 10 March, reveal that health and wellbeing was voted the number one concern by teenagers in the city.
The top four issues voted by 11 to 18s in Brighton & Hove are:
- Health and wellbeing
- Education and learning
- Jobs, money, homes and opportunities
- The environment
Now the council and Brighton & Hove Youth Council - which coordinated the Make Your Mark locally - will review the results and address these concerns.
Increase in participation
Across the UK almost half a million young people took part in Make Your Mark, which is a unique opportunity to get the voices of young people heard by government at every level. Nationally the results were similar to Brighton & Hove’s, with health and well-being the leading issue for young people.
The local turnout for the online vote in February was 1,820 which represents 7.84 percent of the eligible electorate in the city, which is almost five times higher than the turnout in 2021.
Councillor Hannah Clare, chair of the council’s Children, Young People and Skills committee, said: “I’m delighted to see such an increase in young people from Brighton & Hove taking part in this year’s Make Your Mark.
“Congratulations to our Youth Council who have worked so hard to get so many young people involved - and a big thank you to the schools who gave up valuable time to help promote the vote.
“We look forward to further expanding the reach of Make Your Mark in 2023 and are keen to involve more schools.”
Next steps
Hannah added: “The issues highlighted - young people’s health and well-being; education and learning; jobs, opportunities and the environment - are priorities we share as a council. We will be consulting young people and involving them in our decision-making to further address these issues.
“As with previous Make Your Mark results, we will also support young people to take action on these issues.”
The council will be reviewing and reporting on the results at the next meeting of the Children, Young People and Skills Committee in June.
Alfie Douglas, chair of the Brighton & Hove Youth Council said:
“We’d like to say a big thank you to all the young people that voted, as well as our Youth Council members and everybody else who helped us get the message out.
“We are particularly delighted that so many more took part in the city than in recent years.
“We will ensure young people see a real impact from their vote on the community and will be campaigning on key issues highlighted, once we have consulted with young people on the areas of focus.
Alfie added: “Youth Council and Youthwise will be holding a Youth Manifesto Event at Brighton Youth Centre on 25 March where young people will have an opportunity to voice their campaign ideas, as well as have fun!”
Following the results of the Make Your Mark 2021 vote, which saw the environment, mental health & wellbeing, and knife crime as the top issues in Brighton & Hove, the Youth Council led campaigns on plastic waste and climate change, which they will continue.
To address mental health & wellbeing, young people from other youth groups in the city, such as the Care Leavers Trust, have also been actively involved in improving support for young people’s mental health.
The national picture
Nationally the results of the Make Your Mark 2022 ballot were similar to the results for Brightoin & Hove:
- Health and wellbeing
- Jobs, money, homes and opportunities
- Education and learning
These results will inform the UK Youth Parliament’s areas of campaign in 2022-2023, which will focus on ending child poverty, improving access to mental health support and banning conversion therapy.
The month-long Make Your Mark campaign was delivered by the British Youth Council with support from UK Parliament and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Get involved
The Youth Manifesto Event on 25 March is a free event for 13-19 years. It’s an opportunity to meet other young people to share views and opinions. Local politicians will attend to listen and answer questions. There will also be live music, free food and other activities. Visit the Brighton Youth Centre website to find out more.
If you would like to get involved in Brighton & Hove Youth Council, follow their Instagram page @BHyouthcouncil or contact Tracie.James@brighton-hove.gov.uk
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