APPLICATIONS are now open for the eighth Working for Your Community Summer School.
The school aims to help participants aged 18-24 years-old understand politics and involves building skills to develop local community projects across Oldham and Saddleworth.
Participants will take part in sessions led by members of MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Debbie Abraham’s team through to political leaders and those in the voluntary, business and sport sectors.
The school will run between July 12 – 16 and be ‘virtual’, unless Covid restrictions allow for some in-person sessions.
Ms Abrahams created the summer school in 2014, after feeling “concerned” that some young people thought politics didn’t affect them.
She said: “As an MP I receive many requests from young people for some experience of an MP’s office but unfortunately I can’t accommodate them all.
“The key skills they’ll learn about will stand them in good stead for both future involvement in politics and community-based work.
She added: “Of course, we will have another really strong line up of contributors and leaders in the areas of politics, community development, campaigning, and communications.”
Last year sessions were delivered by various experts and leaders in community development, campaigning, communications, sport and politics including.
Speakers included, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Annaliese Dodds MP, Kevin Sinfield MBE, Leeds Rhinos director of Rugby,John Abrahams, England Lions Cricket selector, Lisa Nandy MP, David Lammy MP, mayor Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner MP.
Hajra, a past participant at the school, said: “The time spent with different people taught us how the law affects our daily life, how a campaign could change a situation to affect society and how a small group of citizens can change the society in a positive way.”
Those wishing to register their interest in the summer school can send an application letter and CV by email to abrahamsd@parliament.uk
The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm June 18.
A person specification can be found online at: https://debbieabrahams.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Person-Specification-Summer-School-2021.pdf
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