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What people have said about the programme

Mentors

Sadiq Khan MP, former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities (Labour):

 “Undergraduate ParliaMentors is a fantastic initiative. Young adults of faith are having their views heard at the very heart of government”

• Whilst being mentored by Sadiq Khan, Oliver, Rayyan and Angelica created ‘Politics Works’ - a project teaching a group of twenty disadvantaged fifteen year olds how to effect change in Tooting, their local area and Sadiq’s constituency. 

Dominic Grieve MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice (Conservative):

 “I have no doubt that this year’s class will go on to play important roles in the future – both in their local communities, and maybe even on the national or international stage”

• During their year under the mentorship of Dominic Grieve, Yasmina, Edita and Marcelle worked with faith schools to understand young people’s attitudes to other communities and develop strategies to address conflict in the classroom.

Lynne Featherstone MP, Shadow Minister for Youth and Equalities (Liberal Democrat):

“My trio had started barely being able to talk to each other – and now they are inseparable friends. The understanding that we all as humans have far more in common then we have in differences will stay with them all their lives.”

• Amina, Michelle and Eva spent their year identifying the impacts of policy on refugees and asylum seekers. With Lynne Featherstone’s support, they were able to overcome serious tensions and conflict within the group and went on to travel India together the following summer. 

UP Graduates

“The UP programme is one of the best political initiatives that cater to pro-active students with a keen interest in politics and the workings of government”
Andrew Jude Rajanathan (Mentor: John Battle MP)

“I regard my involvement in the programme as one of the high points of my undergraduate years. I made good friends, achieved something real, and showed myself as well as a class of young people that at its best, politics really does work.”
Oliver Hyams (Mentor: Sadiq Khan MP)

“Undergraduate ParliaMentors is an important programme especially now that racism and all sorts of fears against other faith groups is so wide spread”
Rugena Ali (Mentor: Simon Hughes MP)

After ParliaMentors...

Some opportunities taken up by participants on graduating from the programme include

• Stand as a local Liberal Democrat councillor
• Intern at the Home Office
• World Youth Congress Delegate
• Student Union Campaigns Officer, Education Officer and Anti-Racism Officer
• Work for BBC 1’s ‘The Politics Show’
• Chair, local Green Party
• Parliamentary assistant to Minister
• Refugee Council internship
• Branch Secretary, Labour Party
• Work with Conservative MP
• British High Commission in Nigeria

Application Information

Return to main Undergraduate ParliaMentors page