Hilary and Charlotte are both Girlguiding advocates. For Hilary, this will be her first General Election where she can vote. Charlotte turns 18 in October and narrowly misses out on the opportunity to have her say at the polls. Even though only one of them can vote at this election, Hilary and Charlotte are both politically engaged and passionate about the issues that matter to them, their families and their peers. The advocates have been chatting about what their policy priorities are, what they’d like to see from politicians and why young people should get involved in this General Election.
“You must stay at home.” Everyone remembers where they were when they heard former Prime Minister Boris Johnson address the nation with those words. For the majority of this year’s first-time voters, the most important years of our teenage-hood were shaped by Covid-19 lockdowns– for some it was the first time they couldn’t ignore politics or world affairs, and for others, we were spurred into taking our first steps into advocacy and politics via social media. As members of Girlguiding’s Advocate Panel, our deep passion for politics is pretty obvious, but an even more important part of our role is to help other girls and young women know that their voices do matter and can be heard. Voting is the most vital way anyone can take a stand for what they believe in. The future is reliant on the young people of today, so in order to build a country where we as young women feel heard, we have to be aware of the responsibility that comes with being able to vote. Patsy Mink once said, “We have to build things that we want to see accomplished, in life and in our country” and that perfectly sums up why it’s important for us to use our vote to build a country we can be proud of.
‘Climate change’ was children’s word of the year. That’s no surprise seeing as there’s no school subject that doesn’t include climate change in its scheme of learning. However, there’s no point in learning about something if nothing is done about it. We have seen time and time again that climate pledges are not being met or downright ignored. This infuriates us as this is such an important issue all around the world. Girlguiding research found that 65% of girls and young women aged 11-21 are angry that adults have damaged the environment, and their generation will have to deal with this. With real effort from the governments of the world, the effects of global warming can be slowed or even reversed, and the UK can be at the forefront of this effort. That is why we’re looking for a manifesto that has an effective plan on climate change, including reducing carbon emissions, plastic pollution and landfill waste.
Another important issue for young voters to consider is education. It is vital that we reflect on our fresh experience of education so we can improve what is provided for the children behind us and make sure the initiatives we’ve benefited from stay in place. A dedication to keeping the curriculum relevant and up to date can protect young people from matters like misogyny in school, or help them navigate the internet safely. Teachers also have a huge role to play in children’s lives and often go above and beyond to deliver for their students. It’s important to many young people to vote for those politicians willing to support teachers and pay them sufficiently. Similarly, we’re also looking for policies that support local communities and develop schemes to enrich the lives of children, young people and families. We want to make sure young people, like us, continue to have access to community services such as libraries and swimming pools. An ideal manifesto for many young people is one that funds youth and community services, as well as providing schemes to nurture the skills of young people to set them up for successful careers.
Our 2023 Girls’ Attitudes Survey showed that 75% of girls aged 7-21 are worried about the cost-of-living crisis. We believe it is important, now more than ever, that children are able to grow and learn without having to worry about their basic needs. An expansion of free school meals would mean, whilst in school, children won’t have to worry about the cost of food. Instead, they can focus on their learning and having fun with their friends. Another basic need for young girls is access to period products. With 1 in 5 girls aged 11-21 worrying about being able to afford period products or period pain medication, we also believe schools should be providing free period products and look to politicians who recognise the importance of this. As young adults during a time where the cost of living is increasing, we are also concerned about the worsening housing crisis. The cost of university accommodation is going up, and the possibility of our generation being able to afford homes seems impossible. We want to hear how politicians plan to address the housing crisis and understand their dedication to making housing more affordable.
Hilary: As a disabled person, I’ve seen that we are often overlooked when it comes to discussions around policies and voting, despite us making up a quarter of the UK’s population. Reported incidences of disability hate crime have more than doubled in recent years, and the UNCRPD stated current UK policies “devalues Disabled people’s lives”! Fighting to improve the lives of disabled people and carers is a true manifestation of Wangarĩ Maathai’s words: “Human rights are not things that are put on the table for people to enjoy. These are things you fight for and then you protect” as the rights and lives of disabled people are truly at risk in this election. Many of us have struggled with having to continually fight for our basic needs to be met, so for many disabled individuals, carers, and allies, a party whose policies improve accessibility in day to day life, support benefit schemes that address the increased costs we face, and help us build skills to equip us for the future is increasingly important.
In a world where 47% of girls and young women aged 11-21 are anxious about their future opportunities, it’s important to do what we can to improve the UK not only for us, but for those behind us. In the wise words of Maya Angelou, “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” So, research, register, and most importantly get out there and vote!
Girlguiding advocates, Hilary (18) and Charlotte (17)
Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey shows how girls and young women feel about their everyday lives, the pressures they face and the issues they care about. You can read the Girls’ Attitudes Survey on the Girlguiding website.