Young PPCs week 9: Emily Benn

29th March, 2010 by Emily Benn

Time seems to be going more quickly than ever. I’ve spent the past 4 weeks in meetings, on visits and campaign sessions across East Worthing and Shoreham, getting the chance to talk to as many people as possible.

I was really delighted to have the chance to visit a Children and Family Centre last week in East Worthing – one of the many Sure Start centres that have opened across the country and constituency since Labour was elected in 1997. Many people have commented that the Sure Start programme is one of Labour’s greatest achievements – and it was certainly clear that the children and family centre I visited was thriving, and had become a real hub for members of the local community (of all ages). The centre helps parents who want to return to work, offers high quality childcare, parenting advice and healthcare – including maternity services, supporting hundreds of families. This centre, attached to a Baptist Church, also provided a café for all local people to come and use.

I met a very inspiring local parent who a few years ago, along with a friend, had decided that there was not enough provision for local childcare during term time in their area. So, instead of doing nothing about it, they decided to get qualified in early years care and to start their own nursery and playgroup in the Children’s centre. In 1997 there was no free childcare. Today all 3 and 4 year olds have at least 12.5 hours and all will have 15 from this September. Over time, The Labour Party is committed to helping all parents with two year olds. It was thanks to this provision that the local parents were able to set up and fund their playgroup (which is now hugely successful, oversubscribed, and growing all the time). Labour policies for families and children, including Sure Start, have transformed the provision for early years care for millions of children and families over the past decade. I’m committed to ensuring that funding for our 3,500 Sure Start Centres continues in the coming months and years. If you’re interested in getting involved in the campaign to secure the future for Sure Start, you can sign up at www.SaveOurSureStart.com.

A few days before I had visited Shoreham Academy, along with the Liberal Democrat Candidate for Worthing West Hazel Thorpe, to take part in a mini ‘Question Time’ in front of the Sixth Form, and some Year 11 members. Many of the year 13s in the audience will be able to vote for the first time (I said that of course I was in the same situation – this general election will be the first one I can vote at too). Both I and Hazel were in agreement when we said we though it was really important to try and get young people interested in politics, and voting at the election. It’s not my job to tell anyone who to vote for; I could only explain why I’m supporting and standing for Labour, and my party’s vision for the future of the community and country. It’s up to everyone, young or old, to find out which party best fits their vision and ideals.

While many of them had indicated that they were not planning voting in a few weeks time, the picture looked different when I asked how many of the group were interested in a number of issues; for example, how many of them had a part time job? How many wanted to go to university, or pursue further training? How many of them had visited a hospital in the past few years? In fact, the majority of the students really did care about, and have an interest in, a number of the issues that our country faces today (and not just the clichéd ‘yoof’ issues the press only talk about). Yet many of the students did not feel the connection between the issues and the political process.

To counter this, I tried to say that politics really is the way to change things you’re unsatisfied with. If you think the quality of your roads is unsafe, raise it with your councillors. If you’re not happy with your local school or hospital, write to your MP and relevant ministers. Crucially, however, it is only by getting involved in the process that you can achieve the change you want to see.

Anyway, with the General Election expected in under 6 weeks, I know I still have a great deal to do in the constituency – but I am looking forward to the fight more than ever.

Emily is 20 and is the Labour candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham.

Tags: Labour, PPC