Tracey recently joined the Tonbridge and Malling Youth Forum after the enterprising group invited her along to learn more about her role as Member of Parliament for Chatham and Aylesford.

Tracey spent about an hour and a half in the Council Chamber at Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s Kings Hill offices chatting to the young people about the challenges her role brings and how she goes about representing the views of local people at Parliament.

Fifteen young people from across Tonbridge and Malling were there to meet the MP and ask her questions about her views on a variety of topics in a special ‘questions and answers’ session.  Topics discussed on the night included Scottish Independence, immigration, housing issues and whether young people should have the right to vote at 16 years old.

Zoe Poole, Co-Chair of the TM Youth Forum on the night, says: “I really enjoy representing young people on the TM Youth Forum and so finding out from Tracey Crouch what it’s like to represent people on a national scale at Westminster was really fascinating.  She made me realise that we all have a voice and, if we put our minds to it, we can raise important issues, bring about changes and help improve life in our local community and beyond.”

Tracey Crouch says: “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting with the Tonbridge & Malling Youth Forum to speak about my role as a local MP and the various discussion. It is great to see our young adults have such an enthusiastic interest in these issues and the group had some fantastic questions and ideas for me to take back to Parliament.”

The TM Youth Forum works with a number of organisations to develop activities, events and facilities for young people.  Any young person aged 11 – 18 can join the TM Youth Forum and members come from a wide range of youth clubs, schools and community groups to discuss important local issues. Meetings are held five times a year and alternate between the Tonbridge Youth Hub in Tonbridge and the Council Offices in Kings Hill, West Malling.  The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 18 November. Transport can be provided free of charge and food and drink is also provided at each meeting. 

To find out more or to get involved call 01732 876166, email [email protected] or find Tonbridge and Malling Youth Forum on Facebook.