First-time voters battling against political 'noise'

Erin is particularly concerned about NHS waiting lists

They were born under a Labour government, became teenagers under a Conservative one, and a week today, they will vote for the first time. As the parties try to engage younger voters, these young people in west Cumbria have plenty to say.

When it comes to accessing mental health support, 19-year-old Erin Harrison from Whitehaven says she considers herself lucky, but she is aware her experience is not the norm among her peers.

Although she feels "a bit overwhelmed" at the thought of voting for the first time on 4 July, one thing is clear - she wants whoever is voted in to address NHS waiting times and access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

"I know from personal experience and then from friends' experiences that the CAMHS' waiting list is ridiculously long and it's even hard to get on to," she says.

"That's something that's so close to my heart and I really feel like that needs to be improved upon."

Erin, who is studying beauty therapy at Lakes College in Workington, says she is finding it hard to navigate becoming a voter.

"I love that I get the opportunity to vote and I love that I have that right," she says, acknowledging that voting has not always been an automatic right for women and girls.

But she says she is finding "a lot of noise" in the political debate, adding, "you're not really sure who or what to believe."

She admits she is "confused" on how politicians plan to cut NHS waiting times.

"You can't, in a small amount of time, magic up lots of doctors and nurses."

Lewis says he would have liked more time to prepare for the general election

Lakes College has been running mock elections to help students understand what to expect when heading to the polls.

Lewis Miller also feels unprepared for voting.

The 18-year-old student feels he has not had enough time to get to grips with what each candidate is promising.

"I'm not as clued up as I think I should be, especially with it being my first time," he says.

But despite this, he adds, he is excited.

Students at Lakes College have been taking part in mock elections

He says Maryport, where he lives, feels quite removed from Westminster and the big cities, and he is hoping to see smaller places around west Cumbria get more attention.

He also wants more investment in the local area, in sports clubs and community groups.

Lewis is studying sports and exercise science and wants to move on to further education, but he is concerned about university fees.

"It's quite daunting on students like me - you come straight out of education and you've got quite a big debt, so I want to see quite a lot of promises in that sort of thing."

'Teach us politics'

Local change is also at the top of the agenda for Maya Nann, who is doing an apprenticeship in electrical engineering with Cavendish Nuclear.

"I'm looking for someone that can make some change in our local area specifically, because the public transport isn't ideal where we live and I know there's a couple of parties that can definitely sort that out," she says.

Maya wants to see improvements to public transport

The 18-year-old, who is from Frizington, says she feels excited and prepared to go to the polls as her family take an interest in politics, but she says the same cannot be said for a lot of her peers.

She says she knows a lot of young people who have not registered to vote.

"I feel like a lot of people my age, specifically between 16 and 18, don't get the right information from school because politics isn't taught as a general subject, which I think it should be, so people are more informed when it comes to this age."

'I can't vote'

One person who is clued up on politics and has been following the debates is Thomas Laycock.

However, Thomas is only 17 and will have to watch from the sidelines this time around.

The Workington teenager says it is frustrating, but he is sure when his time comes, he will be fully prepared to vote.

"I know my opinions, I know what I want to vote for, but I don't have that right, right now," he says.

Thomas will have to watch on as the UK heads to the polls

Thomas studies early years and education and is transitioning to a T-level qualification.

Like Erin, he says access to healthcare and mental health support in particular, are high on his agenda.

"Especially me, myself, who's always found myself in the NHS in different areas - A&E, CAMHS, all that stuff - it's not up to a standard where it would be acceptable.

"I don't feel like I'm being treated like a human being while I'm there, more like a number or a client, which I don't think is right."

Full list of candidates for the Whitehaven and Workington constituency here:

• Andrew Johnson - Conservative

• Josh MacAlister - Labour

• Jill Perry - Green

• David Surtees - Reform UK

• Chris Wills - Liberal Democrat

Full list of candidates for the Penrith and Solway constituency here:

• Julia Aglionby - Liberal Democrat

• Markus Campbell-Savours - Labour

• Susan Denham-Smith - Green

• Roy Ivinson - Independent

• Mark Jenkinson - Conservative

• Chris Johnston - Independent

• Shaun Long - Social Democratic Party

• Matthew Moody - Reform UK

• Live: Follow the latest news about the UK general election

• Poll tracker: How do parties compare?

• Compare all the election manifestos and policies

• What photo ID will you need to vote?

• General election 2024: All BBC stories and analysis