Newly elected Slough Youth Parliament members begin their term

Following elections across Slough schools, the council’s Youth Voice Team welcomed the new 2026-2028 Slough Youth Parliament (SYP) representatives, they also showcased the achievements of the 2024-2026 cohort at a celebration and inauguration event on 8 April.

The event kick started with speeches from the outgoing SYP Chair, Junior Jonski and Slough’s UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) representative Rijuta Acharya, followed by SYP representatives introducing some of the projects and campaigns they have worked on during their two-year term. These included the Great Western Railway Tracks Through Time project and Mental Health awareness film series.

Gunveen Kaur and David Essien, SYP representatives, introduced a screening of the Parliament’s Tracks Through Time film which celebrates 200 years of Great Western Railway and raises awareness of sustainable transport.

Gunveen said the project “allowed us all to promote the railway as a mode of sustainable transport, whilst inspiring curiosity and developing confidence along the way, which is why this project was truly beneficial for everyone that had the opportunity to be a part of it.”

The audience was then treated to a sneak preview of the Parliament’s Managing Your Mental Health film series which is due to be released online. These films were created to help young people and their parents understand mental health, spot the signs of deteriorating mental health and know what support is available to them.

The outgoing Parliament were celebrated and presented with certificates recognising their volunteer hours, personal progress and varied achievements. SYP representative, Diama Fall, felt that her time with the Parliament had a positive impact on her development stating: “Before joining, I was extremely nervous about speaking in front of others. However, through consistent encouragement to take on public speaking roles, I was able to push past this fear. As a result, I have grown in confidence and can now clearly communicate my opinions and ensure my message is delivered effectively.”

Former Mayor Siobhan Dauti supported the event and delivered an inspiring speech to the Youth Parliament members past, present and future. She said: “Your voice as a young person is the most important thing that you can have. If you use it effectively you can change outcomes, not just for yourselves, but for those young people who follow you. So, keep using your voices, advocate for the change that you want to see.”

Finally, Youth Worker, Claire Giacobbe, announced and welcomed the newly elected SYP representatives to begin their term as young ambassadors, championing the voices of local young people. Elections were held throughout February and March in schools across Slough with 18 young people being voted onto the Parliament by their peers.

Langley Grammar School’s newly elected SYP representative, Ved Vyas, stated: "I feel honoured to have been voted for Slough Youth Parliament. We all pledge to come together and do our best to serve Slough, inspiring change and making a positive difference in our local community.”

Since their inauguration the new Parliament have elected their Chair; Vidhan Jain, Vice Chair; Rebecca Acharya and UK Youth Parliament representatives Ved Vyas and Veronica Somide. They have been busy discussing their key concerns and compiling their manifesto which will shape their work over the next two years.

For general enquiries, please contact the Youth Voice Team: sloughforyouth@slough.gov.uk