Make Your Mark, the UK’s largest youth vote, launches on 29th January 2024 as part of UK Youth Parliament’s drive to determine the biggest issues. 11-18 year olds in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to shortlist the topics they feel are of the most pressing concern to young people across the UK, including crime and safety and international relations.
The campaign, which is delivered by the British Youth Council with support from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, will run until the 8th March 2024. As in previous years, young people will be able to participate online, through the outreach of local authorities, as well as in schools and youth groups.
Since 2011, close to 7 million young people from every corner of the country have had their voices heard through Make Your Mark. 2022’s vote, in which Health & Wellbeing was voted as the presiding issue, went on to inform the basis of UK Youth Parliament’s Food for Learning campaign, as well as 2023’s Youth Select Committee.
Zara Khan, Chair of the British Youth Council, the charity which coordinates UK Youth Parliament said, “Make Your Mark is one of UK Youth Parliament’s flagship campaigns, and I’m excited we’ll be bringing it back in the new year.
It remains one of the most important opportunities for young people to showcase, as a collective, exactly what’s at the forefront of their concern. I’m looking forward to seeing the results, and encourage decision makers to view whatever the outcome might present as an opportunity to listen to and act on behalf of young people nationwide.”
As well as voting on priority issues, some parts of the UK will also use the voting period as an opportunity to elect Members of Youth Parliament to represent their area. Young people elected will go on to join hundreds of their counterparts, ensuring the views of young people within their community are effectively represented.
The British Youth Council is thrilled to be working alongside the Centre for Youth Impact once again to gather insight into the results of the vote.