Government says sorry for Youth Parliament problems

The government has said sorry for the disruption to the UK's parliament for kids after money problems stopped the scheme.

The UK Youth Parliament was put on pause in March, when financial issues caused the charity in charge of running it to shut down unexpectedly.

Shalom, a Member of the Youth Parliament (MYP), said the pause had been "disheartening" and that losing the scheme would be "a big step in the wrong direction".

The government minister who oversees the scheme, Stuart Andrew MP, has now found a new charity to take over the parliament for a year.

"We had to have that slight pause - which was really distressing, we were sorry to see what happened," he told Newsround.

"But we felt the programme was so important, we are absolutely committed to it, that we've been working really hard to try and do everything we can to get this year's programme back up and running again.

"It has been a worrying time for many members of the parliament, and I hope this announcement reassures them."

What is the UK Youth Parliament?

MYPs get to meet in the House of Commons and discuss issues that matter to young people

When you hear the word parliament, you might imagine grown-up politicians having debates and creating laws but did you know that the UK also has a parliament just for kids?

Every two years, hundreds of 11 to 18 year olds are elected as MYPs.

Elections are held across the country, with candidates making posters and knocking on doors to win votes.

MYPs are responsible for speaking up about issues that matter to young people in their area, and making sure the adult politicians take notice.

They hold debates, make speeches and run campaigns about all kinds of topics, from schools, to health and the environment.

Shalom said she was worried when the charity British Youth Council closed down, leaving the parliament without anyone to run it.

"We'd just been elected in March, and it was only a few weeks after that we found out.

"This was slightly disheartening after all our hard work, we didn't know if we'd be able to do our roles as MYPs."

Muhammad Ammaar and Shalom said they were happy the Youth Parliament was set to get started again

Muhammad Ammaar, another new MYP, said the parliament was "a crucial structure for young people to get heard and make change in our society".

He said: "If there is no youth parliament, how are young people supposed to get involved in politics?"

Research in March from the Children's Commissioner for England found that four in five kids don't feel listened to by politicians.

It also discovered that only one in 10 teenagers feel they can have an impact on issues that they care about.

Shalom says it's really important that kids get involved in politics. She said: "Us young people, we're the future of this country.

"And if we don't have an impact on the decisions that are made that will affect us, then what's the next generation going to be like?"

Stuart Andrew MP first got involved with politics at the age of 14

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society Stuart Andrew said the charity National Youth Agency would be taking over running the Youth Parliament for the next year, while he spends the next few months creating a longer term plan.

He said: "We do need to have a look at what happened and learn lessons from that.

"I don't want the young people to go through this again.

"It's really important that young people are addressing some of the national issues we're facing and giving their opinion - but equally talking about the things that matter in their own communities.

"I've seen first-hand how important it is and how much young people get out of it."

Which issues would you focus on as a Member of the Youth Parliament? Let us know in the comments.