ASPIRING young politicians have told of their achievements since being elected to the UK Youth Parliament.

It’s been a busy few months for Dorset members of the UKYP as they plan projects, draw up policies and talk to their constituents to canvass opinion.

The UKYP aims to give young people between the ages of 11 and 18 a voice which will be heard and listened to by local and national government, providers of services for young people and other agencies.

More than 14,000 people voted in the elections in Dorset this year.

Dorset’s members are Tom Easterbook, 13, from Dorchester, Abi Fox, 15, from Blandford, and Moya Dunne, 14, from Ferndown.

Their deputies are Imogen Barnard, 14, from Uplyme, Natasha Glendening, 14, from Sherborne, and Naeem Miah, 12 from Ferndown.

Among the initiatives they are working on is a political education campaign. A DVD and leaflet are being created to inform young people about the European Parliament in Brussels and the work that goes on there.

Some members met with the under-secretary of state for transport Andrew Gwynne at the Houses of Parliament to discuss priorities for transport in Dorset. They then went onto a Youth Summit for input into the Labour Party manifesto on transport for young people.

Wheelchair user Tom Easterbrook is busy organising a disability day in early September and applying for funding while Imogen Barnard, who is continuing with a media campaign for more positive images of young people, said: “We have nearly finished collecting the information we need for our first manifesto topic, a young people’s finances booklet.

“We now have to design the booklet itself as we have more of an idea of what is wanted and the information in it.”

She added that Dorset members of the UKYP were also gaining accreditation for their work through the British Youth Council Youth Voice Award.

For more information about the work going on in Dorset by UKYP members visit: dorsetforyou.com/ ukyp