In his latest Reporter column, the Stalybridge and Hyde MP has a message for young people in Tameside ahead of the United Nations' National Youth Day this week.

They say youth is wasted on the young. Certainly, it’s pretty tricky to value the energy, optimism, thick heads of hair and wrinkle free faces we’re gift in our adolescence until we start to lose them!

But in my experience, young people today waste very little of their talents, freedoms and potential. Visiting our schools and colleges to talk to local students remains my favourite part of being an MP. Our young people’s drive, inquisitiveness, passion, hard work and candour never fails to take me by surprise.

This week, it’s all about UN’s National Youth Day, tomorrow (Friday). This annual international event is a reminder that young people are often relegated to the side-lines and excluded from having a voice in decisions that affect them. Its aim is to bring out their perspectives on social, economic and political issues and make them equal partners in their futures.

Each year the UN has a different theme and this year the theme is “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”.

The UN is not necessarily famed for its snappy titles, but food security is indeed vitally important, and it’s right we turn to young people to think through how we should ensure they can eat affordably and sustainably for years to come.

We’re rightly taught to respect our elders; absolutely we must harness wisdom and experience, ensure we never forget the lessons of the past, and treat others as we would like to be treated in later life.

Yet arguably, it is equally important to respect our youngsters. Stereotypes that cast youngsters as apathetic, antisocial and gadget obsessed are deeply harmful.

There are many extraordinary examples to point to, from Malala Yousafzai, who could not be deterred from her fight to educate girls worldwide, even by her attempted murder by the Taliban, to Marcus Rashford and his unstoppable drive to end child hunger here in the UK. Last month’s Lionesses victory owed as much to mere lion cubs as older members of the team; it is extraordinary to think that City’s Lauren Hemp is just 22 and Georgia Stanway just 23. They changed England’s trophy cabinet but they might just have changed the course of history for women in sport, too.

So, to the young people of Tameside, never be afraid to stand up and be counted. Stand for your school council, get involved in Tameside Youth Council, or email your MP about that issue that’s been bugging you. We know you have much to give and can’t wait to hear from you.

In the spirit of listening to young people, I’d like to give a huge thank you to Henry Davies of West Hill School for helping me with this column during his work experience in my office. Another future leader in the making!

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