Birmingham Young People’s Parliament

When invited by the Association of Handsworth Schools, to participate in a question and answer session with children from a number of schools from Handsworth in the Council Chamber, I did not really know what to expect but was excited.

My first contribution was to inform the Lord Mayor, Cllr Anita Ward, who I bumped into in the corridors of the Council House, that the Council Chamber had been taken over by children from across Handsworth. She took this news on board and walked straight into the chamber to formally welcome the children to the Council House and participated in a 30 minute session of questions and answers despite not formally being invited. The children appreciated the debate with the Lord Mayor, whom I must commend for her fantastic representation of the City as its first citizen and her willingness to engage with all, with this as a typical example.

Myself and Cllr Lal then participated in a session of questions and answers from children from a number of schools across Handsworth including the following from my ward:
• Heathfield School (my old Primary school)
• Westminister School
• St Clare’s School
• Welford School
• Angelsey School
• Grove School

The questions were far tougher than one can assume. I felt extra proud to be able to speak to the children as I clearly remember my first visit to the Council House was whilst a pupil at Heathfield School to see the then Lord Mayor of the City, Honoury Alderman Bernard Zissman.

I found the session so refreshing that I have contacted all the schools in my ward to arrange visits in the new year and to build relationships with the schools. I look forward to working closely with some of the best schools in the city who contribute so much to the future of our city. I appreciate wholeheartedly the foundation that Heathfield and Holte Schools gave me whilst I was there as a pupil, and I would like the opportunity to put something back into the schools and the community as a whole.