By Isle of Wight Observer
Last Saturday I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Youth Voice conference, organised by the Isle of Wight Youth Trust.
Not long after becoming an MP, last year, I was fortunate enough to meet some of their staff at their Hub in Pyle Street. So I was more than happy to be part of their 2025 conference.
Of course, it wouldn’t have been a proper public event without a Q&A. Both Joe Robertson MP and I spent a good half hour taking questions from attendees. Having spent an hour the previous Saturday being asked questions by the Islanders for Europe group, and with Christmas Eve spent talking to users of Northwood Warm Space, I can safely say Q&As are one of the best ways to get invaluable feedback on issues that matter to Islanders. And they really do help inform my work as your new MP to champion the Island in Westminster.
Back to the conference. The event included discussions on youth development and community collaboration. There were networking sessions between organisations, charities, schools, and young leaders. And it offered insights into the challenges young people face, many of which would be felt similarly elsewhere, but plenty are exacerbated by the fact Isle of Wight West is both a rural and coastal community.
But perhaps most importantly, it offered the opportunity to engage with the next generation of innovators – a generation which is clearly passionate, politically and socially aware. And that’s something to celebrate. It’s also why I’m optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead and why my team and I will be doing more work with schools and organisations in the months and years ahead to make sure young peoples’ voices are heard.
Meantime, do look at the brilliant work being done and services offered by the Youth Trust at iowyouthtrust.co.uk. And please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. Your views and issues help me to give real examples and personal stories to colleagues and ministers.
Constituents can email richard.quigley.mp@parliament.uk or call the office on 01983 244980, and my team and I will do what we can to help.