With one of the youngest constituencies in the country, it is important to me to prioritise issues that are important to young people, education, and families. Over this past year, I have visited several schools in my constituency, as well as hosted them in Parliament. The Government has introduced a large number of new policies to improve the wellbeing of young people, including free breakfast clubs, funding for apprenticeships, and announcing plans for the rollout of Young Futures Hubs.
Here is some of what I have done over the past year on issues relating to young people and education:
- I have raised issues of SEND provision in the Chamber, and with Ministers, and I have spoken directly with SEND charities to understand how I can best support constituents facing these issues.
- I have raised the mental health support for women and girls with autism that is so often lacking.
- I welcomed the Government raising the National Minimum Wage rates for 18–20-year-olds, under-18s, and apprentices from April 2025, which helps to narrow the gap with the National Living Wage.
- I continue to advocate to eliminate knife violence, an issue that directly impacts my constituents, and hosted local charity Mero’s World to Parliament to raise this directly with MPs.
- I supported the Government’s decision to give 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote.
- I have made visits to the universities in my constituency, met with leadership teams and societies from the Unions, and met the Vice President of Higher Education from the National Union of Students.
- I have visited ten schools and colleges in my constituency, and hosted a ‘student-COP’ event to discuss the climate crisis with young people.
- I have visited the headquarters of AQA exam board in my constituency, and hosted them to Parliament for an event on the value of financial education.
- I have visited and supported various constituency-based youth initiatives including Moss Side Hideaway Youth Project, who do amazing grassroots-level work for our community.
- I have supported the Government’s work on reducing child poverty through expanding the availability of breakfast clubs, and have advocated for better outcomes for children in Manchester who are living in poverty.
- I joined the Prime Minister in welcoming the upcoming EU-UK Youth Mobility Scheme.
- I met campaigners from SENDS 4 Dad, a grassroots support group for male carers of children with SEND.