New project raising awareness of Brexit backed by MP
A new project aimed raising awareness of Brexit among young people has been backed by an MP.
Pat McFadden is supporting the Our Brexit scheme, which was started with the aim of giving young people outside London a greater voice in the UK’s Brexit discussions.
It was launched by students' Venandah Madanhi, aged 20, from Bilston and Nathan Powell, also 20, from Tipton.
They say their politically neutral campaign is an attempt to fill the gap left by young people having no platform to have an influence on the Brexit discussions.
Wolverhampton South East MP Mr McFadden, who sits on the Brexit Select Committee, hosted a focus group in his constituency with 10 young people.
The Labour MP said: “It’s a great credit to Venandah Madanhi and Nathan Powell that they have organised Our Brexit.
“One thing we have learned – admitted by Leave and Remain campaigners alike – is that Brexit is a great deal more difficult and complex than was claimed at the time of the referendum.
“There are new issues coming to light all the time.
“I think it’s really important that young people have a voice on these, whether it’s freedom to work and study elsewhere, universities’ access to research funds or the economics of leaving the EU.
“We had a very good meeting in Bilston covering all these issues and I look forward to working more with Our Brexit in the future.”
The British Youth Council found that 90 per cent of young people want to have a meaningful say in the Brexit negotiations.
Venandah and Nathan said: “Young people will endure the effects of Brexit for the longest, therefore, it is imperative that we get the opportunity to have a say on our own futures.
“Ultimately, we hope that we can gain enough traction to be able to influence the Government into considering the views of young people.”
The overall aim of the scheme is to provide a pool of knowledge for young people to use either through a website or an app.
It will provide a one-stop-shop containing a range of tools to help young people learn more about the issue.
The project organisers say they want to see people aged 16-25 making Brexit Vlogs, engaging with infographics, participating in online polls and interviewing their local MP.
After a year they hope to present a report on the content to the Department for Exiting the European Union.
In the coming months Venandah and Nathan plan to visit schools in the city to gauge how young people feel about Brexit.
