This years local election results have been a record high for the Green Party, gaining 43 seats.

Some of its best results have come from Young Greens, either holding their seats or gaining seats from Labour and the Conservatives.

Some key statistics from this years elections:

• The Young Greens have gained 14 Councillors.
• We now have 57 Young Green Councillors in total.
• 19% of all Green wins have been Young Green candidates.
• Over 25,000 people voted for a Young Green candidate.
• Young Green candidates won 50% of seats they stood in.
• Target candidates won 75% of their seats
• The largest lead goes to Cate James-Hodges, who won the Stroud Central by-election with 2,166 votes, an incredible 1,367 lead over Labour!

We are immensely proud of every young person who stood as a candidate and/or helped campaign for us in these elections.

Young people standing for radical and progressive change are continuing to break records. We know all our Young Green Councillors will work hard for their residents, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve.

Wherever young people’s lives may take them, the Young Greens are there to represent and advocate for their needs, views and wants, championing the rights of students and young people aged up to 30 across England and Wales.

We’re working hard to get more Greens elected. Join us, and let’s make it happen.

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The event was open to all Young Green members regardless of previous experience or involvement, and it was a pleasure to see so many young people attend both in Leeds and online. We’re delighted that this was our most well attended Winter General Meeting yet, signifying young people’s move to the Green Party.

The day started with a welcome from our executive committee, followed by the reading of committee members 6 month reports.

Most notably, Winter General Meeting allows members to vote on motions and any amendments submitted prior to the meeting.

Motions passed this year:

• Better youth participation in local life
• Building a green future
• Utilising nuclear to move towards net zero
• Inclusivity in sport: solidarity with transgender athletes
• Calling for a lasting peace in the Middle East and justice for the Palestinian people
• Fix the housing crisis: build more homes

The full motions can be read on the Young Greens Democracy Platform and accessed here.

In the afternoon we were joined by Mothin Ali, Councillor on Leeds City Council for an insightful Q & A about his time as a councillor and the issues that matter most to him.

We would like to say thank you to every member who joined us last weekend both online and in Leeds. It was an invaluable opportunity for members to connect, build networks, and both learn about, and importantly contribute, to how the Young Greens is run.

Stay connected on more updates of how we are shaping the future of the Young Greens:

Young Greens (@young.greens) • Instagram photos and videos

Young Greens 🌱 (@YoungGreenParty) / X

Wherever young people’s lives may take them, the Young Greens are there to represent and advocate for their needs, views and wants, championing the rights of students and young people aged up to 30 across England and Wales.

We’re working hard on getting more Greens elected. Join us, and let’s make it happen.

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Anti-trans hate is being pushed everyday by the media, politicians and throughout society and the Young Greens will always stand against transphobia in all its forms.

Jenny Knight, Co-chair of the Trans Young Greens , said:

“This Trans Day of Remembrance I’d like to call upon ex-Stonewall campaigner Wes Streeting to remember who threw the first brick. I call on him to join us as we celebrate the lives of those we have lost, our siblings who have died whilst waiting for healthcare, those who were taken from us by transphobic violence and the trans people that history tries to forget.

I call on the Labour Party to listen to trans voices, trans kids deserve better than a puberty blocker ban that puts their wellbeing at risk and they deserve better than be turned into a political football so that the health secretary can engage in his favourite past time of courting the far-right on GB news.

I call on the health minister to join us in remembering Marsha P. Johnson, the Stonewall riots, and the values that Streeting himself once stood for as part of Stonewall. If Streeting was to hold true to his ideals he would lift the puberty blocker ban and work to improve the waiting times for gender identity clinics. We as the queer community stand on the shoulders of giants who pioneered the way for our rights and we at the Trans Young Greens hope Mr Streeting will remember who’s shoulders he’s standing on.”

Today, we remember those who have been lost to anti-trans violence and call for an end to the scapegoating of the trans community. If we are going to achieve justice and equality, it is vitally important that we remember those that we have lost.

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Hear from one of our wonderful 30 under 30 participants, Kushal, about his experience of the programme and how it has supported him on his political journey.

My allegiance to the Green Party stems from my disillusionment with the Labour Party, which began quickly after the inception of Keir Starmer at the helm. For me, the straw that broke the camel’s back was Keir Starmer’s Labour going back on the party’s long held commitment to abolishing tuition fees. I feel that this policy is integral for a party that commits itself to representing people equitably.

The Green Party’s commitment to free higher education is just one reason that drew me in. Ultimately, Labour’s recent aim to entice would-be Conservative voters has seen them drift too far away from the social justice principles that led me to becoming a Labour member as a hopeful sixth former in 2015. Given the recent flight of many on the left in Labour, most notably political commentator Owen Jones, I know I am not alone in thinking this. With social justice values aiming to create a fairer and more equal society through policies such as reducing energy bills by insulating homes, decarbonizing the energy systems, Universal Basic Income, Free Education at all levels, workplace democracy, strengthening the role of Trade Unions and Racial and Gender Equality, I believe that the Green Party is best able to actualize social justice.

These are policies that ought to be actioned and so since leaving the Labour Party last May and joining the Greens back in August, I have been eager to secede from the comfort of the pub stool (although still maintaining positive diplomatic relations with it) and become more actively involved in pushing for a society that is more socially justice. The 30 under 30 program has offered me a fantastic avenue to take initial steps towards fulfilling this aim.

The 30 under 30 program equips young greens with the necessary political tools to effectively engage in political activism. The benefit of learning these tools is that young greens can become politically active in a plethora of ways. Through our sessions on community-based action and public speaking I have assumed stronger electorate-facing skills, but I feel equally more capable of adopting a more administrative role through our sessions on policy enactment and debating.
The sessions were engaging and insightful, a quality I attribute to the fantastic planning by the coordinators who incorporated a variety of teaching techniques into their sessions. For instance, in the policy enactment and debating sessions we were lectured on how debates are conducted and how motions are democratically decided upon by the Green Party before being given an opportunity to role play the process.

Given the nature of the program, it is fair to assume that all 30 under 30 attendees are extremely knowledgeable about politics. Nonetheless, some of us (including myself) were certainly less knowledgeable about the inner workings of party politics i.e., how political decisions like determining policies that the green party should enact are conducted. The role play enabled me to participate in this process and receive constructive feedback on my contributions to the debate. Consequently, I feel both confident and motivated to participate in actual decision-making processes in the future!

Following a thorough and engaging session presented by Councilor Jack Lennox on how to win local elections by incorporating the Green Party’s Target to Win strategy (learn more about this by here), the coordinators held an interactive session based on increasing community-engagement and strengthening support for the Green Party. Here, we were put into groups and given realistic scenarios that Green Party candidates may face during local elections. This was a conducive method for us to use the content we learnt during Lennox’s presentation to strategise for real-life scenarios. I found this session helpful because I usually read about local election results during my downtime (for example, whilst waiting for or being on an inevitably delayed Southwestern railway service – sorry, couldn’t help myself!) However, now I was being asked how I would engage a community that was predominantly composed of a Conservative demographic! Being able to pose strategies and listening to my comrades’ ideas (some of whom drew on their previous experiences of campaigning) has certainly led me to feel more capable of playing a prudent and effective role when being involved in electoral campaigning.

The session on public speaking conducted by Deputy Leader Zack Polanski was fun and useful. Zack (no doubt drawing on his background in Drama) got us into pairs with people we were less familiar with to make silly noises that cultivated a jovial and crucially comfortable environment. Zack imparted useful tips to improve our public speaking abilities. Personally, I found his tip of not filling gaps in our speech with sounds like “umm” or “err” and instead just pausing for thought very helpful as it highlighted a challenge I (as most people do) have when public speaking. For anxious beings like myself, replacing conversational fillers with pauses for thought can alter our perception of time (in my experience one second becomes one hour). Nonetheless, now that I have identified this, I am aiming to improve. Although admittedly for me, this is easier said than done!

Meeting a senior member of the Green Party like Zack also gave us a chance to get more of an understanding of Green Party initiatives and opportunities for us to get involved with the Green Party. For instance, he informed me of the role I could play within my London constituency by working with councillor Natalie Bienfait to proliferate support for the Green Party in Tower Hamlets. Since meeting with Zack, I have taken his advice on board by becoming more of an active participant for the Tower Hamlets Green Party. In early April I made my leafleting debut for the Green Party in the Bow and Bethnal Green area. Everyone was very accommodating, and I found this to be an ideal combination of socialising with like-minded people whilst exercising my political consciousness.
Incidentally, we also had lunch with Zack! As we approach election season, I intend to become increasingly politically active for the Green Party – an activity that has certainly been encouraged by my experience of liaising with more experienced and active Greens during the 30 under 30 program.

Young councillors were also provided with a platform to share their experiences and answer questions from us. I found this session invaluable as it demonstrated to me that if young like-minded people are playing a leading role in initiating change in their local areas, there are similar
opportunities for me to actualize my political consciousness. Certainly, this session ignited a spark in me to try and initiate positive changes in my local area.

Another aspect of the program that I found uplifting was the diversity and inclusion of the program. This program seeks to represent young people from all classes, gender and ethnic backgrounds and my experience of the program certainly reflected this. The Green Party is often cast as a magnet for
middle-class idealogues (like me), but I saw a broader section of society being represented in the program. That is not to say that the Green Party has completely fulfilled the goal of engaging people from a wide range of minority groups. Far from it, more needs to be done to dispel myths that perhaps alienate people from the Green Party whilst demonstrating to a broader section of society that their aspirations for social justice are best represented by the Green Party.

As I become increasingly active in the Green Party, I have identified widening support for the Green Party as a key personal objective that I would like to contribute towards. Undoubtedly, especially through the community engagement and public speaking sessions, the 30 under 30 program has facilitated the development of my skillset to help me to realise this ambition. My leafleting debut has already allowed me to put these skills into practice. In the midst of the Spring electoral season and the General Election, I was able exercise these skills more frequently.

The Young Greens 30 Under 30 programme has a proven track record of training leaders and activists including MP and current party Co-Leader Carla Denyer, along with several members of the current Young Greens Executive Committee. It will be worth watching to see what amazing things 2024’s cohort go on to achieve.

To get involved with the Young Greens on your campus or meet other Young Greens in your local area, visit our Groups page to find out more.

The post “The 30 under 30 program equips young greens with the necessary political tools to effectively engage in political activism” appeared first on Young Greens.

With Pride month coming to an end, the Young Greens want to wish everyone a happy Pride. We continue to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and are committed to campaigning for the rights of all LGBTQ+ young people.

The Green Party strives for a fairer society where the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ members are recognised, not dismissed or used as a political football. Discrimination is still prevalent in the daily lives of many young people, such as the limited access to safe housing, education, employment, and healthcare. Furthermore, the anti trans rhetoric visible in political and media discourse is both harmful and exclusionary and seeks to erase the existence of trans and non-binary people. 

Pride, in its truest form, is the celebration and liberation of the LGBTIQA+ community. This demands real intersectional action, not empty words disguised as corporate pinkwashing. 

Green Party policy signifies this real action, including:

• Comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education in schools.
• Updating the Gender Recognition Act to allow trans and non-binary people to get legal recognition through self determination.
• Formally recognising non-binary and intersex people on legal documents. 
• Banning conversion therapy.

Mor Stinchcombe, Young Greens LGBTQIA+ Officer, commented:

“This election, and the toxic discourse from the two big parties, have put a damper on Pride month, but still we march.”

To get involved with the Young Greens on your campus or meet other Young Greens in your local area, visit our Groups page to find out more.

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The Young Greens are celebrating a successful set of results in May’s local elections. The Green Party now has 42 young councillors across England and Wales, with 4 new councillors elected and 8 successfully defending their seats. 

Young Green’s saw successful results across multiple council and mayoral elections, including 26-year-old Frank Adlington-Stringer, who, with over 50,000 votes, came third in the East Midlands mayoral elections, securing 11.3% of the vote share. Furthermore, Jack Vickers, the Young Green candidate for Pennsylvania ward on Exeter City Council, came second, consolidating the Greens position as the second biggest party in Exeter. 

Bristol saw a huge victory, including a gain of 10 extra seats and 5 Young Greens elected. These gains ensure that the Green Party remains the biggest party on Bristol City Council, with 34 councillors.

 Young Green election officers Kelsey Trevett and Dan Kittmer commented: 

“We’re absolutely delighted that, yet again, so many incredible Young Greens have been elected to councils across England. Of all the Green councillors elected on Thursday, 1 in every 15 was a Young Green—a massively higher proportion of young people elected than any other party. Our Young Green Councillors will be fantastic representatives for their communities, standing up for renters, advocating for real affordable and social housing, and fighting for joined-up public transport.

Young Green Councillors have already secured free period products in public buildings in Oxford, committed Norwich City Council to supporting Trans and Nonbinary people, and organised in solidarity with the Palestinian community in Lancaster. We’ll all be looking forward to seeing what our newly-elected Young Greens go on to do in office.”

Results

The new Young Green councillors elected are:

Kemal Cufoglu, Colchester Borough Council

Toby Bolton, Norwich City Council

Ashleigh Davies, Cheltenham Borough Council

Izzy Russell, Bristol City Council

Cam Hayward, Bristol City Council

Abi Finch, Bristol City Council

Grace Couch, Maidstone Borough Council

Alex Powell, Oxford City Council 

The Young Green councillors who held their seats are:

 Lauren McLay, Plymouth City Council

Patrick McAllister, Bristol City Council

James Crawford, Bristol City Council

Tor Pingree, Worcester City Council

Thank you to every voter and campaigner who helped get young Greens elected. Our councillors will work tirelessly for a fairer, greener community in England and Wales.

You can find all your Young Green Councillors here!

Wherever young people’s lives may take them, the Young Greens are there to represent and advocate for their needs, views and wants, championing the rights of students and young people aged up to 30 across England and Wales.

To get involved with the Young Greens on your campus or meet other Young Greens in your local area, visit our Groups page to find out more.

The post The Young Greens celebrate local election success with 12 young green councillors elected  appeared first on Young Greens.

Young Greens Political Education Officer Phil Davies rounds up our 2024 30 Under 30 flagship training scheme.

The 2024 Young Greens annual 30 Under 30 event took place in Manchester from the 16th-18th of February. This three day residential weekend brought together Young Greens from across England and Wales for training, education and connection building.

We kicked of the weekend with the Young Greens Co-Chairs Jane Baston and Luanne Thornton talking participants through the structures of the Green Party and the Young Greens itself. Young Greens Political Education Officer Phil Davies then ran a session on the history and philosophical basis of Green politics, including introducing participants to the 4 key pillars of Green Politics. This session also covered how Green parties emerged and how the Green Party of England and Wales and the Young Greens fit into the wider global green movement. The day was rounded off by a session on how Green Party policy is created and how conference works. This also gave participants the chance to practise their debating skills.

The second day focussed on winning local elections and we were joined by the excellent Cllr Jack Lennox, the Green Party spokesperson for Culture, Sport and Digital Inclusion, and the Green candidate for Lancaster and Wyre in the upcoming General Election. This session also gave participants a chance to practise what they had learned with real life electoral scenarios.

Next in the schedule was a session on movement building, before we were joined by the Green Party’s Deputy Leader and London Assembly Member Zack Polanski for a session on communication and media skills. This session was highly interactive, energising and engaging and we really appreciate Zack taking time to come and run this session.

The final day began with Young Greens Election Officers Dan Kittmer and Kelsey Trevett running a workshop on how Young Greens can get involved in helping at the next general election. It was great to see so many young Greens keen to attend action days and, particularly encouragingly, stand as general election candidates themselves. We finished off our weekend with an elected Young Green councillors panel and Q & A. This featured Hamish Mills, Lauren McLay and Tor Pingree, who we are all very grateful were able to come and share their knowledge and experiences with us. It was great to hear about the crucial work and amazing changes elected Young Greens are making to communities across England and Wales.

Reflecting on the weekend, participant Rosa Dilling said: “Having spent my early 20s getting really into complaining about politics but doing nothing about it, going to a weekend aged 27 to hang out with other young people who were willing to do something about it was phenomenal. The education on campaigning, canvassing and targeted strategy feels like it’s elevated me to a much better position for future organising! As for the people, well I really don’t have words that would do justice for the inspiration I have taken from both the organisers and my fellow comrades. If you want to get involved in actual social change, 30 under 30 is the program for you!!”

Young Green Co-Chair Luanne Thornton said: “I want to take this opportunity to highlight the incredible talent and enthusiasm in this cohort of 30 under 30 candidates . It’s clear that they will go on to do great things within the party. It was really great to have deputy leader Zack Polanski join us on the Saturday afternoon to deliver a session in public speaking . As always his charisma shone through and it led to a really productive session.

The Young Greens 30 Under 30 programme has a proven track record of training leaders and activists including current party Co-Leader Carla Denyer, and Benali Hamdache, the Green Party’s Migrant & refugee Support Spokesperson and Islington Councillor, along with several members of the current Young Greens Executive Committee. It will be worth watching to see what amazing things 2024’s cohort go on to achieve.

Thank you to everyone who took part in organising and facilitating this event, all our incredible guest speakers, and all the wonderful participants who chose to share this truly unique experience with us. The next 30 Under 30 programme will run under the next Executive Committee. Members will receive an email when the programme goes live.

The Young Greens are the Youth and Student Wing of the Green Party of England and Wales. Any Green Party member who is under 30 or a full-time or part-time student is automatically a member of the Young Greens. Join the Green Party here.

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Each year, the 18th of December marks International Migration day. This day recognises the importance and value of migrants and immigration to society, both culturally and economically, whilst highlighting the challenges they face. The Young Greens support a system that welcomes those moving to the UK and ensures they are treated fairly and humanely, without discrimination and prejudice.

This year’s International Migration Day bears particular significance at a time where UK immigration policy not only serves as a completely inefficient and futile strategy, but also a cruel treatment of those most in need of international protection. The Green Party recognises the right to claim asylum in any country, as defined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The immoral Rwanda bill, passed in the House of Commons last week, highlights the Conservatives lack of empathy for those seeking refuge in the UK. It is highly worrying to see the government undermine the Supreme Court’s ruling last month that deemed the Rwanda policy unlawful, in addition to directly violating the principle of the UN Refugee Convention. Additionally, the recent reported tragic death on the Bibby Stockholm shows that the Conservatives should not be trusted with the lives and welfare of asylum seekers.

The recently announced immigration rules, adopting a points based system for those applying for a UK visa, has particularly harmful consequences for young people and students. These rules will not only limit the current shortage occupations list but will more than double the minimum income for those bringing family members, such as children, to the UK on a family visa. These rules particularly deter crucial workers and young people, some of the most likely to earn below the new £38,700 income threshold. Those affected are being left in limbo over new income rules, or otherwise threatened by family division or exile, at a time where the UK is experiencing 264,000 vacancies in the NHS and social care.

Furthermore, the announcement that the Graduate Route of post-study work rights will be reviewed, has caused further concern for young people and students. It risks the post-study work rights for international graduates, and the provision of open post-study work. This will create even more pressure on students to either secure high grades or high skilled work after graduating in order to stay in the UK, again emphasising the government’s decision to dictate who, and who are not, ‘worthy’ of migrant status. The government has a duty to support all people seeking to settle in the UK, who should be treated as citizens in waiting, not ‘threats to society’ or ‘economic migrants’.

Young Greens International Officer Benjamin Wold Bermanis said “Migration is human. The governments inhuman treatment of migrants and asylum seekers show that there are no depths they will plumb for self-serving short-term political gains”

Wherever young people’s lives may take them, the Young Greens are there to represent and advocate for their needs, views and wants, championing the rights of students and young people aged up to 30 across England and Wales.

To get involved with the Young Greens on your campus or meet other Young Greens in your local area, visit our Groups page to find out more.

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UK Disability History Month exists to reflect and raise awareness of the marginalized position those with disabilities and neurodivergences hold within society. The significance of disability liberation to UK history is often understated, even forgotten about specifically in the context of the welfare state. Yet despite this, and with the “diagnosed” population at around 24%, it is shocking that such great disparities still exist. For example, according to the House Of Commons Library those with disabilities are less likely to have a degree, less likely to be in work and less likely to be experiencing happiness. In addition, they are at a higher risk of crime and up to 333% more likely to be experiencing loneliness. This is not yet even taking into account the cost of living crisis, the climate emergency, changes to electoral law, cuts in health and social care.

Importantly it is necessary to recognise that disabled people belong to various communities, many of which have become marginalized and made voiceless, including young people who despite experiencing a similar level of exclusion have few opportunities to be heard. As a prime example of this the Local Government Association records the average age of councillors at 60, with 16% being under the age of 45. This is extremely pertinent as young people particularly benefit from council run/ funded services, particularly transport and leisure that is accessible, along with inclusive education and planning. With the cost of living crisis and the appalling state of renting in the UK it is no surprise that civil participation is not at the forefront of many young people’s minds. This is no different for those with disabilities who have to fight extra hard and for longer to even be in a position to have their voices heard. It is of no help that in combination with this there is an attack on devolved powers and absolutely no funding at all for grass-roots community participation projects which would otherwise give a larger platform to those with disabilities to have a voice in their community.

Despite the UK signing the United Nations Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) over 10 years ago it’s sad that there has been little implementation. Current legislation does not go far enough in enforcing accessibility and holding service providers to account. We need to move away from a system of disempowerment, to one where all sectors are cooperating proactively so everyone can thrive.
I am proud that the Green Party takes a rights based approach to disability, this is crucial because as much as we advocate for removing systemic barries, many people with disabilities will still need a range of disability-related supports in order to enjoy their rights on an equal basis with others. Hence a need for policies that empower an individual at all levels.
Particular areas that concern Young Greens include the state of SEND Education, teaching doesn’t currently reflect student’s needs and learning style. Segregated learning further holds students back.
Public transport which many disabled people rely on still makes travel so difficult. Bus passes are restrictive and space for mobility aids is limited. Within our train network provision of passenger assistance is poor whilst traveling is more expensive than ever.
Social care in the UK is still a business model which means the support required by those most at need will never be at a quality level, as providers are too focused on value for money then the real social, emotional and mental health needs. That’s only when a mental health diagnosis has been secured which is becoming increasingly challenging.

Elliott Lee, Young Green Disability Liberation Officer said: 

“Disability history month is a chance to reflect on 150 years that have seen radical social and systemic change for those disabled in society. What history classes have failed to teach us is the strides disability liberation has made for the welfare state, it must not be forgotten as there’s still so much more to come, especially for young people who often find themselves voiceless within society.  Disability Liberation is for everyone and that is a key as we build policies for a sustainable future”

Thomas Atkin Withers and Eli London, Co-Chairs of the Young Green Disability Committee said:

“Disability history month gives us a pause to reflect on how far we have come, but also to organise for the fight ahead. As we have seen in the Autumn 2023 Budget, this government is hell bent on rolling back protections for disabled people, forcing them into work or destitution, and putting their health at stake. We also see how little support there is for Young Disabled people, from SEND Support in education to support in workplaces, and support from the welfare and healthcare systems. When we demand Disabled Liberation, we demand the rights of disabled people to have agency and control over their lives, the right level of support at the right time and a flexible approach to that support, as every disabled person is different. Disability Liberation needs to be at the heart of all that we do, in every policy we write, and in every campaign. That is the only way we can build a brighter future for us all.”

The post Joint statement from Young Greens Disability Officer and Disability Group Co-Chairs on UK Disability History Month appeared first on Young Greens.

The Green Party believes that Affordable, secure and comfortable accommodation is a basic human right. Those without accommodation and those forced through lack of choice into inadequate or unaffordable housing may lead diminished lives and can be excluded from playing their full part in society.

Exploitation by landlords is one of the most important problems that students deal with. By raising rates without rationale and disregarding property maintenance, many landlords take advantage of the increased demand for student accommodation. As a result, a large number of students are forced to live in unsatisfactory circumstances that not only make them uncomfortable but also have an adverse effect on their health and general wellbeing. Alarming numbers were discovered by National Union of Students (NUS) research. Surprisingly, 51% of students report having problems with dampness or mold in their rented housing. In addition, 49% of students said their homes were inadequately insulated, which can have a negative impact on their health in addition to raising their utility expenditures.

A diversified strategy is needed to address the housing situation for students, in addition to rent regulations and landlord responsibility. This entails constructing more affordable housing units, putting vacant homes back into use, and ensuring that new construction is properly incorporated into the areas in which it is situated. These programs could expand the number of student housing options that are affordable and lessen the strain on the rental market.

MP Candidate for Bristol Central and Co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer, recognises just how much of an impact this is having on student  constituents in her area and across the country, “All of us can agree that without the security of a roof over our head and food on the table we are not able to fulfil our potential at school, university or work.

“Against the backdrop of the Government’s broken student loan system, huge rent increases made by landlords are damaging the wellbeing of young people and students. It is unacceptable that many students are missing out on the education they are paying thousands for because they are struggling to afford housing and food without working alongside full time study. 

 Carla Denyer proposes that “The Green Party has a plan to provide affordable accommodation to students, protecting those who need it the most. This includes introducing rent controls and abolishing tuition fees. We call on the Government to introduce measures which protect and empower students to get the most out of their education”.

As Young Greens we are campaigning to address these issues, it is imperative that rent controls are introduced nationwide, landlords are held accountable for the condition of their properties, and a commitment is made to building more affordable housing units.Our Young Green Councillors, Activist Groups and Members are showing up for meaningful change. Only by taking a comprehensive approach can we hope to ease the burden on students and create a housing market that is fair and accessible for all. It is our responsibility to ensure that students have a safe and stable place to call home while pursuing their educational goals.

Wherever young people’s lives may take them, the Young Greens are there to represent and advocate for their needs, views and wants, championing the rights of students and young people aged up to 30 across England and Wales. Join us now!

To get involved with the Young Greens on your campus or meet other Young Greens in your local area, visit our Groups page to find out more.

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