YOUNG people from the Wigan and Leigh Youth Cabinet are encouraging everyone aged 11 to 18 to get involved in a national ballot called Make Your Mark.

The ballot, which is run by the UK Youth Parliament, gives young people the chance to vote on the issues which are most important to them.

The top five issues voted for will be debated at the UK Youth Parliament annual sitting in the House of Commons in November.

At the end of that meeting young people from across the UK will vote to select the top two issues that the Youth Parliament will run campaigns on next year.

Cllr Jo Platt, cabinet portfolio holder for children and young people at Wigan Council, said: “It is so important to offer young people the chance to be part of a voting system.

“Lots of young people want to vote at age 16 but don’t currently have the opportunity to do that, so this is one way they can have their say on something that links to central government and has meaning.

“I don’t think we should underestimate how much young people want to have their say and get involved.”

Last year 7,000 young people from the borough voted.

Dana-Lee Moon, 17, from Leigh, is a member of the Youth Parliament so will represent young people in the borough at the November meeting.

She said: “This year we are aiming for even more young people to vote.

“Make Your Mark is important because it is about young people getting their voices heard at a national level.

“Young people are the future generation so we need to be the ones to change things for the better so that the future will be good.”

Young people who want to get involved should ask their school or youth group to register at ukyouthparliament.org.uk/makeyourmark.

If schools or youth groups need some advice on how to run a young people’s election they should e-mail voiceandengagement@wigan.gov.uk.