Platform 51

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Categories: education and skills, equality, general, politics and parliament, regional news: south of England
Monday, 24 October 2011
Mock Council Meeting at Bristol City Council

Speaking up about trafficking, drugs and prostitution

Students from three Bristol schools visited Bristol City Council house last week to take part in a mock council meeting and debate with local City Councillors, including Barbara Janke (Liberal Democrats), Peter Hammond (Labour), Peter Abraham (Conservatives) and Tess Green (Green).

Organised by women's charity Platform 51, the event aimed to give young women the chance to speak out about subjects that matter to them. On the agenda were human trafficking, prostitution, drugs and alcohol. They also learned about how local government works; Steven McNamara, the council's legal officer, told the students about the council's roles and responsibilities.

The students had clearly done their homework on their chosen subject areas. They spoke with authority on Bristol's anti-trafficking protocol; the impact of the economic climate on migration, drugs and employment; the objectification of women; the role of a free market and its impact on trafficking, prostitution and drugs; the benefits of a living wage and the pros and cons of legalising sex work and drugs to name but a few.

Councillors were impressed and delighted by the knowledge and maturity that the students displayed. 

The students learned how  important local government is and about the power of speaking up. It made them feel confident and the chance to tell people what they thought was highly valued.