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YOUTH ELECTIONS: Meet the candidates
Young people in Rugby will be having their say over the next seven days in the Youth Parliamentary Elections.
In total, 28 under 18s in Warwickshire are standing for the four seats.
Last year, three teenagers from Rugby stood for the seats.
But this time around, ten will be vying for parliament.
Starting today (Friday), schools and youth clubs will be voting for a representative to stand for issues in Rugby that affect young people.
News Editor Phil Hibble went to meet the candidates. Here's your chance to find out more about them (See their pictures on the gallery to the right):
Name: Nadia Simelame
Age: 15
School: Harris
Address: Brownsover
Campaigning for: More sex education in schools.
Quote: "There is a problem with underage sex in the area. We need better sex education and more contraseptives available."
Name: Suzanne Gardener
Age: 16
School: Harris
Address: Brownsover
Campaigning for: More youth clubs.
Quote: "People get bored and get into crime because there is nothing else to do. More youth clubs will help lower the crime rate."
Name:Kiran Barhey
Age: 15
School: Rugby High
Address: Bilton
Campaigning for: Lowering voting age to 16.
Quote: "A lot of decisions affect young people, yet we have no say in them. We can join the army at 16, but we are not allowed to vote."
Name: Cian Roberts
Age: 12
School: Avon Valley
Address: Boughton Vale
Campaigning for: More help from police.
Quote: "Crime affects more young people with mobile phones, yet it takes days for the police to respond to incidents."
Name: Nick Loydall
Age: 14
School: Harris
Address: Dunchurch
Campaigning for: cheaper public transport fares for youngsters.
Quote: "At 14, you cannot get a job that will pay for bus and train fares. I like to get out to places but it's too expensive."
Name: Stacey Conteh
Age: 15
School: Harris
Address: Benn Ward
Campaigning for: More events and cultural awareness.
Quote: "More social events will help us get off the streets and a special all-year-round teen radio station will help us be heard."
Name:Mary-Beth Chansa-Machile
Age: 14
School: Harris
Address: Overslade
Campaigning for: lower bus and train fares, more activities for youngsters.
Quote: "We have a lot of negative feedback and I want young people to have their voices heard.
Name: Laura Carter
Age: 14
School: Avon Valley
Campaigning for: Better education for youngsters.
Quote: "I want to succeed in helping children get a better education and an all-round better life, both inside and outside their schools and homes."
Name: Jordan Barnett
Age: 12
School: Avon Valley
Campaigning for: Getting youngsters' voices heard
Quote: "In my school, I have been in a number of councils and I have got my voice heard. I have had a lot of success and I have great ideas already."
Name: Bradley Clake
Age: 17
School: works for a living
Campaigning for: Helping youngsters who have problems.
Quote: "As a youth I had problems. I feel like I could offer help to the youth of today."
Four candidates from the county will go forward to the Warwick-shire Youth Parliament, where they will meet to discuss local and regional issues affecting young people.
The voting runs from February 1-8 and the results will be announced on February 9 at a special event at the De Montfort Hotel in Kenilworth.
Voting can be done via texts and online voting in schools and youth clubs.
The elections are organised by Warwickshire County Council's Youth and Community Service.
Members of the UK Youth Parliament will represent the views of their constituency and meet councillors and MPs to help shape decisions.
County Cllr. Izzi Seccombe, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "We welcome the news that even more young people than before want to get directly involved in the political process and stand as a Member of Youth Parliament."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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