Youth Council and Member of Youth Parliament

What does a Youth Councillor do?

The Stockton-on-Tees Youth Council will be made up of 10 young people aged 11 to 18 years who live, work, study, or volunteer in Stockton-on-Tees for at least 14 hours per week. They are elected every two years by a Borough wide election online.

The Youth Council consists of one Chair, two Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) and one Deputy MYP. The rest of the Youth Councillors will be allocated projects throughout their two-year terms. The Chair, MYPs and Deputy MYP will be elected by the Youth Councillors in their first meeting.

All members of the Youth Council are expected to attend at least one meeting a month. Their roles involve working with local councillors, businesses, Members of Parliament (MPs) and making decisions that require a vote on behalf of Bright Minds Big Futures (BMBF) and support the work of the group.

Being elected as a Youth Councillor does not mean you are required to stand as an MYP.

What does a MYP do?

MYPs are elected every year across the UK. There are currently hundreds of MYPs in the UK. Once elected MYPs meet with MPs and local councillors, organise events, run campaigns, make speeches, hold debates, and ensure the views of young people are listened to by decision makers locally and nationally.

They may also be invited to regional and national conferences to represent the voice of young people in Stockton-on-Tees.

This year, MYPs will be voted by an elected Youth Council.

If you wish to stand as a MYP, you must first be elected as a Youth Councillor.

How to vote in the Youth Council election

Youth Councillors will be elected by an online vote open to all young people aged 11 to 18 years who live, work, study, or volunteer in Stockton-on-Tees for at least 14 hours per week. The vote will open on Wednesday 17 June 2026 and will close on Wednesday 8 July 2026.

Each young person may vote for up to two candidates. The 10 candidates with the most votes will then be elected as our new Stockton-on-Tees Youth Councillors.

When voting opens, a link to the voting portal will be posted on this webpage along with all the names of the candidates and their statements. You may only vote once.

This year the Youth Council vote will be entirely online. Your school does not have to be taking part. Schools may choose to host sessions where they allow students to vote in school, however you can vote independently online.

The first Youth Council meeting will be on Tuesday 14 July 2026.

Register your nomination to be a Youth Councillor

To stand as a Stockton-on-Tees Youth Councillor, you must be aged 11 to 18 years and live, work, study, or volunteer in Stockton-on-Tees for at least 14 hours per week.

If you live in one Borough, but study in Stockton-on-Tees, you can still stand but you can only stand in one constituency. This also works in any combination. For example, if you live in Stockton-on-Tees but study in Middlesbrough, you may still stand in the Stockton-on-Tees Youth Council, but only in one council.

If you will be aged 19 years by the end of the MYP term you can still stand, but you will need to step down as MYP on your nineteenth birthday. The elected deputy will then take your place. You can continue your role of Youth Councillor until the end of your term.

As part of your registration, you and a parent or guardian must attend a briefing session at 4pm on Friday 12 June 2026 at Dunedin House (TS17 6BJ). If you cannot attend this date you will be asked to attend an online meeting with a Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Officer.

Nominations close on Wednesday 10 June 2026.

Register your nomination to be a Youth Councillor

For a copy of the full documented procedures, including the election of MYPs, please email brightmindsbigfutures@stockton.gov.uk.