Melissa Hannon elected as South Warrington.

candidate to stand for the Youth Parliament

Melissa Hannon, Year 10 student was successfully elected to stand as the South Warrington candidate for the Youth Parliament on Friday 12^th February at the Orford Youth Base.

“My involvement began two years ago when the student council supported James Giblin who stood as a candidate for the South Warrington Youth Parliament and we helped with the election process.

This year members of the student council and friends went to the Orford Youth Base and we took part in team building games. We drafted a speech outlining the main problems in the South Warrington area ie the way young people are portrayed by the media, lack of facilities and littering. I was selected as candidate for Penketh High School, by Miss D Gibson, Assistant Head and Mrs E Peters, Events Coordinator.

I delivered the speech to approximately thirty students and staff from schools in Warrington. I was apprehensive but afterwards I felt very proud of myself but I was worried that I wouldn’t be elected. It was a very tense time waiting for the results. When my name was read out I felt shocked and delighted! My mother was thrilled with the news and very proud of me, and we were congratulated by Mr J Hughes, Head Teacher when we returned to school.

I now have to wait two weeks for the completion of the South Warrington schools election and if I am successful then I will attend the Northern Ireland Assembly representing Warrington schools.”

Elections take place from week beginning 8^th March. Results day will takes place at the Town Hall on 19^th March.

Melissa’s election speech for Youth Parliament

My name is Melissa and I don’t want to be a President or a Prime Minster, but this is a very important role and I want our voices to be heard, as Martin Luther King had a dream I have one too. I have a dream that young people will live in a new and improved Warrington where their needs will be met and their problems heard:

I want to change the way young people are portrayed in the media as sometimes we are portrayed as irresponsible, anti- social and ignorant. I plan to turn this around.  I want facilities for teenagers; if I were elected I would help set up a youth café to liven up our daily lives. People are convinced we are reckless and irresponsible due to the media – we need to convince the community that they are wrong. Vote for me and I’ll aim to bring the dark portrayal of Warrington youth to an end and provide a positive place for teens to go, to show the community we have many positive qualities!!!

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