Pack to school: Hackney Youth Parliament appeal gives helping hand to new starters

Pack To School, school kit collected by Hackney Youth Parliament. Photograph: Youth Parliament, Hackney Council. Free for use by partners of BBC news wire service

Pupils will have a stylish start at their secondary school after residents donated 150 back packs and school equipment to help families struggling with the cost of living.

The Pack to School appeal was the brainchild of Hackney Youth Parliament which wanted to ensure some children from less well-off families did not miss out as they started secondary school.

It is the first year that the young politicians have run an appeal like this, which was prompted by the cost of living crisis.

An estimated 40 per cent of Hackney’s children live in poverty and the young parliamentarians wanted to relieve some of the anxiety for pupils starting their time at secondary school.

They researched the kit and suggested neutral colours which would fit in with uniform rules at all of Hackney’s 16 secondary schools and came up with a shopping list of useful kit.

The essentials included a pencil case, set of pens and a scientific calculator to help students with their studies.

They said: “As young people, we know how important it is to start the first term feeling confident and ready, and we want others to have the best start in their new school.”

The young parliamentarians, who are aged between 14 and 19, also held a thank you event for people who have helped out.

They were joined at the Forest Road Youth Hub by Deputy Mayor Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Deputy Speaker Cllr Sheila Suso-Runge and Hackney Downs councillor Alastair Binnie-Lubbock.

Next month sees elections for the new Youth Parliament members, who each serve a two-year term.

They campaign to improve the lives of young people, including tackling inequalities and looked at mental health, work, and policing policies in Hackney, as well as organising fun events for young people.

Further details about applying to stand are available at hyp@hackney.gov.uk or by calling 020 8356 2200 between 10am to 5pm.