School children from Manchester challenge Prime Minister about their futures

A group of children from Manchester are leading the way with a new campaign to hold power to account.

They might call themselves 'mini-reporters', but this group of children from Greater Manchester are challenging the Prime Minister to allow them to have a say on some of the biggest issues of today.

The campaign, 'Raise Your Hands' came to fruition after children felt ignored and left out of the national conversation about their future in the aftermath of Covid-19.

Leading the campaign is Sam, Aisya, and Jack – who have made videos to send to Boris Johnson.

The campaign has the backing of the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who hosted a live Q&A session with the children to discuss some of the most pressing issues around their futures.

The children are now calling for others to support them, including Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.

Sam, one of the mini reporters, aged 11, said: “Do my opinions not count? Kids should be a part of conversations about our future.

“We made videos to send to the Prime Minister and got our friends to ask questions because we want to be heard and we are calling on all kids across the country to do the same.

“We have the support of the Mayor of Manchester to answer our questions, will the Mayor of London help us too? We want to get answers from the Government to our questions, we should always be a part of big conversations – we are small – but what we think matters.”

The mini-reporters created the campaign with the support of Media Cubs, an afterschool club, that transforms the classroom into a newsroom to create, debate, and navigate the news. 

Kirsty Day, a mum and journalist who leads the club, said: “This year, we have seen kids begin to value their voices through protests about climate change and Black Lives Matter. They have raised their hands and their voice to express their opinions, and we want this to continue.

“Now, they have strong opinions and burning questions for the Prime Minister about their education, sport, the economy, and much more, and they should be heard. It is their futures after all.”

• Video report by Victoria Grimes

For more information on the campaign go to www.mediacubs.co.uk

• 10 Downing Street were approached for comment but no response was received.