Jamie, 14, battles for seat in Youth Parliament (From Bury Times)

Jamie, 14, battles for seat in Youth Parliament

10:00am Thursday 19th February 2009 in Search Module

STUDENT Jamie Walker is proving that teenagers care about more than just sleeping and spots.

For the 14-year-old hopes to fight for young people by standing as a candidate in the UK Youth Parliament election.

Jamie, a pupil at Radcliffe Riverside High School, is campaigning to secure the future of the school and to keep the youth service under the control of Bury Council. He also wants to promote a positive image of young people.

He said: “I am interested in saving the youth service and saving my school. These are the things that are very important to young people.”

Jamie, of Coleridge Avenue, Radcliffe, regularly attends the Y-Zone and volunteers with a music group for disabled people that meets there.

He is also a member of Bury’s youth cabinet and a volunteer park ranger at Close Park and Bolton Road Park.

He said: “I have been doing this for years and love supporting the community. I like making a difference.”

Jamie will stand against 13 other youngsters hoping to represent Bury in the Youth Parliament.

The election takes place between 9am and 3pm on Thursday, March 5, and polling stations will be set up at schools and colleges across the borough for young people to vote.

The two candidates chosen to be Bury’s representative and the two deputies will be announced at 5pm on Friday, March 6, at Bury Town Hall.

And if Jamie succeeds in the election, it could see him one day becoming leader of the council.

He said: “I would love to go into politics when I’m older, but I haven’t decided what I want to do yet. I might be a councillor.”