Time's Up: It's Time for Politicians to Fulfil #ThePledge

Time's Up: It's Time for Politicians to Fulfil #ThePledge

You wouldn't realise it with all the hype around the EU referendum, but today hundreds of elections will take place across the UK, including the Scottish Parliament, Police Commissioners, the Welsh Assembly, mayoral, the London Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

At Bite The Ballot, we've been working hard to engage communities to register to vote. We've also been helping those furthest away from politics realise that the issues they care about are political - two vital steps in making politics something that we can all take part in.

In the capital - through our 'Tinder for politics' app. - Verto.London - we've also been advising Londoners about which of the mayoral candidates best matches their views and values. You can play the game, here, and you can take a look at what Verto's telling us about our top priorities in this Huff. Po. article.

Ahead of the elections in Scotland and Wales, we've been leading a different campaign. We've been fighting to do ourselves out of a job.

In partnership with the ERS in Scotland and Wales, we launched #ThePledge campaign. The aim's simple - to get as many decision-makers as possible to pledge that young people should receive a political education in school. If it sounds like a 'no brainer', that's because it is.

Even though we're the most connected generation in history, we're also the generation that's most disconnected from politics. We're either cut off from, don't value, or aren't participating in political processes. Can anyone blame us?

To combat this, it's vital that our voices are heard and that our priorities are understood - and acted on - by those in power. But we need a much, much bigger focus on democracy in school if we're going to develop as citizens who're engaged in, and ready to help evolve, our broken politics. That's where #ThePledge comes in.

We're calling on decision-makers across the UK to ensure that every young person leaves school empowered and equipped with skills, knowledge and confidence to:

1. register to vote, and vote

2. understand, challenge and help evolve our political processes, and

3. take action, improve and strengthen our schools and communities.

With support from Caroline, Sian, Peter, Sophie and George in London (and with past support from Sadiq and Zac) - plus dozens of endorsements from across Britain - 2016 could be the year we truly change our education system.

Everyone should leave school empowered to take a stake in society, and begin to engage with - and evolve - the relationships between individuals, communities and decision-making.

It's time to make this vision for the UK, a reality. It's time for politicians to begin work in fulfilling #ThePledge.

Remember, you can vote between 07.00-22.00 tomorrow. Make it count. #TAKEPOWER.

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