Home > Events > Circles of Influence
>> Click here to download the event report
>> Click here to download the event programme
 An unprecedented number of the Government’s most senior Ministers, from seven different Departments, were held to account on their vision for the future by 200 young people from the UK Youth Parliament.
The innovative event took place at the British Museum and featured an exciting ‘circle within a circle’ format, where a diverse group of 11-18-year-olds from across the UK challenged Ministers on their views and policies, and learned from them about their vision for the future.
Additional influential leaders and policy-makers representing various professions completed the line-up within the Circle Debates.
 Beverley Hughes MP, the Minister for Children, Young People and Families, joined a plenary session in the afternoon to listen to summaries of the morning Circle Debates, gave a major key-note address, and took part in a question/answer session with all the young participants.
Government was extremely keen to hear the opinions of young people, and Circles of Influence provided a new opportunity for open dialogue between young people and the decision makers who affect their lives.
>> Click here to download the event report
>> Click here to download the event programme
Circles of Influence was kindly sponsored by:
* The Government representatives who took part were:
- Hazel Blears MP, Minister of State for Crime, Security and Communities, Home Office.
- Ben Bradshaw MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
- Karen Buck MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport.
- Harriet Harman QC MP, Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs.
- Beverley Hughes MP, Minister for Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Department for Education and Skills.
- Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
- Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for International Development.
For further details about Circles of Influence please contact UK Youth Parliament on:020 7843 6341, 020 7843 6310, or circles@ukyouthparliament.org.uk
Photographs by Dudley Hubbard - © Trustees of the British Museum
Additional photogrpahs by Sylvia Munday
| 
