I’m not really going to comment on the Lib Dem Voice piece by Richard Wilson about Liberal Youth being stuck in the proverbial headlights; with 600 new members since March, a new website being launched and a brand new executive team taking over next week, we need a youth party that looks to the future and prepares for the battles to come, like the Norwich North By-election this summer, and beyond to the upcoming General Election and the next parliament.
The first step to building those future successes will be Liberal Youth’s comeback training event, Activate, taking place from the 3rd-5th July at The Foundry Adventure Centre in Derbyshire, Activate is a training event which aims to train up our new members in key campaigns, media, communication and team-working skills, setting them up to become the young politicians of the future.
Activate is the event that got Jo Swinson, now our youngest MP, involved in the party. Two of those who went to the last one, Jenni Clutton, 21, and Ben Rawlings, 27, are now amongst our youngest elected councillors. Indeed, Activate was my first ever event as a party member and the one which got me engaged with the party – some might say this is a bad thing, but 3 out of 4 can’t be bad, right? I am personally delighted to see it make a comeback and couldn’t recommend going more highly to the ambitious young leaders we have in our midst.
Registration is just £25 for the weekend, which covers accommodation, training, transport from the station to the event and food, and you can register by emailing Neal Brown, our Vice Chair Membership Development, at [email protected] – it’s going to be one hell of an event, and I look forward to seeing you there!
* Martin Shapland is Liberal Youth Executive Member and Chair of the International Committee
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5 Comments
Very true, Martin. It also helped me get more involved in the party. 3 out of 5 is still not too shabby.
Looking forward to the new website- let’s hope that it is designed not just to look nice but to help Liberal youth campaign.
I’m looking forward to the new exec turning the page and being accountable, drawing in members to help, and planning properly as well as being budget hawks in saving money where possible.
As ever, even if I do sometimes criticise, I’m always available and willing to help!
Ah yes, the first Activate!
I remember it well.
Jo Swinson was clearly destined for great things as was Katt Price who went on to do sterling work for the party.
Sounds awful. I am glad I am no longer with you.
Doesn’t really say much for the organisation when the first thing you do in your post is to make disparaging reference to a post another of your members has made.
Not exactly a free flow of ideas.
Dear Anon
I see no lack of flow of ideas from our youth party’s members, Richard has a view – I just happen to disagree that the answer is to patch holes in constitutions.
I believe Richard will indeed be at this event so I’m sure we’ll have a discussion about the future of the Youth party there – that is, after all, what it is all about.