APPG to discuss tackling racism and religious discrimination

Tuesday 1^st March, 5.00pm-7.00pm

Committee Room 9, House of Commons.

Dear colleague,

I am writing to you as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs to invite you to the next meeting of the group on Tuesday 1^st March at 5.00pm in Committee Room 9, House of Commons.

The group is holding its second meeting of the year and will be focusing on how to tackle racism and religious discrimination. The meeting will explore a number of topics including how negative images in the media fuel racism and religious discrimination in communities, what can be done by young people to tackle the issue among their peers as well as older generations, and how can we raise the levels of understanding about different races and religions, communities and cultures.

The APPG on Youth Affairs is an unusual group in that young people attend the meetings and there is usually a lively debate between them and the Parliamentarians present. We hope that this meeting will be an interactive and informal forum in which attendees will discuss the issues that matter to young people.

I hope that you and the young people you work with are able to join us to take part in this event. If you have any young people in your organisation who would like to come could you please contact Phillippa Lewis of the group’s secretariat to reserve a space on 020 7186 9551 or via email at appgonyouthaffairs@ymca.org.uk.

But, to make this a success as a Parliamentary group, I need your help!  Could you please write to your own MP, any other Parliamentarians you work with and those MPs who you feel should be taking an interest in this subject, to encourage them to attend?  You can easily find your own MP (and that of each the young people you bring) here, by entering a postcode:  http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/.  If we don’t all actively reach out to MPs and Peers then the young people we serve are simply not able to enjoy the principal benefit of coming to Parliament, which is to engage with politicians.

I appreciate your help in making the group an ongoing success which genuinely connects young people with the MPs and Peers who work for them.  I look forward to seeing you in March.

Yours sincerely

Chloe

Chloe Smith MP

Chair

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs