This year, Elliott Hudson student, Emmanuel Jah has become a member of the UK’s Youth Parliament representing Leeds. He is one of the three young people from the Leeds area that sits on the Youth Parliament. He succeeds Blessing Hachem alumni of Elliott Hudson College who held the same position last year.

Emmanuel was elected as a Leeds Member of Youth Parliament in November 2023. Throughout the campaign, his primary focus was on ensuring the safety of children from crime and providing them with a platform to voice their concerns. Now serving as a Youth Parliament Member, he actively engages in monthly meetings and events across Leeds, attends three regional conventions, and participates in the House of Commons sitting.

Recently Emmanuel was selected as one of Sixteen Youth Ambassadors, to work with Dame Rachel De Souza on the Children’s Commission. They will share the issues raised in The Big Ambition survey with the Government, members of the opposition and big tech companies. The ambassadors are aged 16-18 and come from all corners of England. They have been chosen for their personal experience and for their passion to try to change issues that really affect children and young people.

Emmanuel explained: “We each discussed the findings of The Big Ambition and managed to present them to an audience of 200 people. We we’re joined by brilliant young musicians form the national youth choir, a phenomenal youth orchestra and important policy makers like the shadow secretary of education of both the Labour Party and Liberal Democrat Party Bridget Philips and Munira Wilson that want to help amplify the voices of young people.

Upon the discussions we have with the children’s commissioner and the other policy makers, us 16 youth ambassadors found it important that the next government that will be elected this year knows and values the voices of children all across England, to assure that they have the best quality of life.”