HUW WELCOMES LOCAL STUDENTS TO DEMOCRACY AWARDS IN WESTMINSTER
16.03.2016 For immediate release: This week schools from across East Sussex visited the Houses of Parliament to take part in the East Sussex Democracy Awards Event. The event was held to celebrate the achievements by schools across the county, who had attained democracy awards for their involvement in the Big Vote 2015, in which over 14,000 young people took part across the county to increase student awareness of political issues. Students had the opportunity to question local and national representatives over a range of issues which were raised by schools during the Big Vote process.
One of the top five issues that young people highlighted in the Big Vote was the need for improving mental health awareness and support. Having arrived at the meeting following his attendance at the delivery launch of the Mental Health Taskforce in Parliament, Member of Parliament for Bexhill and Battle, Huw Merriman, was able to explain to his students what the future of mental health provision could look like. After the event, Huw chatted to students and teachers from St Richard’s Catholic College, Frewen College, Robertsbridge Community College, Heathfield Community College, Bexhill Academy and Claverham Community College and invited them to join him in his office so they could see how their MP worked when not debating in the chamber.
Said Huw “I was delighted to greet pupils from our schools and congratulate them for getting involved in the democratic process. I am passionate in ensuring that all constituents should feel able to visit and view Parliament so was pleased to have the pupils in the office. I particularly welcome the emphasis on mental health, a cause which I am campaigning on for my constituents.”