MP opens applications for ‘virtual’ Working for Your Community Summer School

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, has opened applications for her eighth annual Working for your Community Summer School for 18-24-year-olds.

It will take place between July 12-16, 2021 and the school will be ‘virtual’ again this year, unless Covid restrictions allow for some in-person sessions.

Ms Abrahams 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. 

“This was one of the reasons why I created the summer school in 2014.

"The other key reason was my concern when I spoke to some young people that they thought politics didn’t affect them!

“The aim of the summer school is to help participants understand what politics is about: helping your community.

"As such the week involves building those skills to develop local community projects across Oldham and Saddleworth. 

“The key skills they’ll learn about will stand them in good stead for both future involvement in politics and community based work.

“Obviously, because of Covid-19 restrictions we’ll have to hold the sessions online in a ‘virtual’ summer school again unless government guidance allows us to hold some in-person sessions, so we’ll make that judgement closer to the time.

“Of course we will have another really strong line up of contributors and leaders in the areas of politics, community development, campaigning, and communications.

“Participants will take part in sessions that will be led by members of my own team through to political leaders and those in the voluntary, business and sport sectors.

“And on the last day, participants will graduate with a surprise guest speaker.”

Last year sessions were delivered by various experts and leaders in community development, campaigning, communications, sport and politics including: Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House; Annaliese Dodds MP, Shadow Chancellor; Kevin Sinfield MBE, Leeds Rhinos Director of Rugby; John Abrahams, England Lions Cricket selector; Lisa Nandy MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary; Dame Eleanor Laing, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons; David Lammy MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor; Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; and Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

To register your interest in the summer school, send a letter of application with a curriculum vitae by email to: abrahamsd@parliament.uk 

The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on June 18.

A person specification can be found here

You can read what past participants had to say about previous schools and view photographs here

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