Archive Website of the UK government

Political online television

Catch21 is an online TV channel run by young people.

The site is filled with videos about how the political system works and what MPs are doing about the issues that really matter to you.

You can also find out how you can volunteer to be a part of their online videos or add your comments to the Catch 21 blog.

• Catch21 Opens new window

The UK Youth Parliament

If you want to influence MPs and the national government, you can get involved in the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP).

The UKYP aims to give young people between 11 and 18 years old a chance to be listened to by MPs, government ministers and other politicians.

Every local authority in England has at least one young person who is elected to the UKYP. Every July, all UKYP members get together to discuss the issues that are important to them and other young people.

If you don’t want to stand for election, you can still get involved with the UKYP’s work.

You can:

• vote in UKYP elections
• support UKYP campaigns
• discuss and debate issues on the UKYP website
• go to a UKYP event
  

• Join the UKYP discussion forum Opens new window

The UKYP outside England

If you don’t live in England, other organisations arrange the elections to the UKYP. These are:

• the Scottish Youth Parliament
• Funky Dragon (Wales)
• The Northern Ireland Youth Forum
  

• The Scottish Youth Parliament Opens new window

• Funky Dragon Opens new window

• Northern Ireland Youth Forum Opens new window

Voting and elections

Elections let the British public have their say on who should be making the decisions in Westminster by voting for a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them.

Find out how the voting system works and which MP is representing your local area.

• Registering to vote (government, citizens and rights section)

• Find your local MP (do it online section)

How Parliament works

There are hundreds of MPs working for you in the Houses of Parliament, but do you know what they do all day? Take a look at what goes on in Westminster here.

• Parliament (government, citizens and rights section)

History of the European Union

The European Union influences much of our day-to-day lives. Find out here how the EU grew into one of the world's most powerful organisations.

• The European Union (government, citizens and rights section)

Children's Commissioner

Maggie Atkinson is the Children's Commissioner for England. The Commissioner and her team make sure that adults in charge listen to children and young people.

• Tell the Children's Commissioner - Maggie Atkinson - how she can make life better for you Opens new window

Useful contacts

• Young people contacts