The start of a political journey

Ashley Burton-Lynch evaluates the OBV Parliamentary Scheme and catches up with two of its graduates.

A couple of weeks ago aspiring MPs from the OBV Parliamentary Shadowing Scheme graduated in a wonderful celebratory ceremony in the House of Lords.

But this is not where the story ends for the graduates or the scheme. For me, the great thing about the scheme is that the actual shadowing, whilst a hugely informative and important experience, is just one key pillar of the scheme. Another is the capacity of the scheme to act like a lighthouse guiding motivated individuals who want to do that bit more for their communities to a harbour full of like-minded individuals.

I have followed the progress of the Shadows with much interest and can say with conviction that the scheme is not there for just anyone with an interest in politics, who might have a bit of free time. It is demanding and in turn demands that those on it demonstrate by deeds as well as words their commitment to realising their political ambitions of making the communities they live in a better place.

The great expectation, placed on the Shadows, to actively serve their communities, is what sets the scheme apart. On speaking to two of the Shadows before the graduation, I am in no doubt that they dutifully rose to the challenge.

Chandni Tanna, who was one of the graduates, passionately told me how she can trace her commitment to creating positive social change back to her involvement as a member of the Newham Youth Parliament (NYP).

Chandni says that her involvement with the NYP took her to countries like South Africa and Brazil, allowing her to see how young black people across the world were determined to “take responsibility for themselves and make a difference to their community”.

The experiences gained at NYP inspired her to bring these positive youth led messages of agency back to London – the result – ‘loveLife Generation UK’, a youth focused social enterprise.

Chandni has been active in developing a passion into a product with real output – ‘loveLife’ has been involved in the Mayor of London’s ‘Breaking the Chains’ event, marking the abolishment of slavery  as well as working in partnership with local agencies to deliver peer-led, motivational youth programmes.

Fellow, OBV graduate Zena Agha’s spirited campaign against the selling of illegal West Bank goods aptly demonstrates the positive outcomes that can be achieved when ordinary members of the community actively engage with MPs.

Zena worked with her mentor Fiona McTaggart MP to raise awareness amongst local shopkeepers in Slough of the illegal nature of Israeli products from the West Bank. Zena successfully helped to encourage Sabar Hussein, a local shopkeeper, to refuse to stock these goods.

The Shadows might have graduated and the formal shadowing of the MPs might have come to an end, but one thing that is guaranteed not to stop is their tireless efforts towards building a better society.

Ashley Burton-Lynch is a University of Nottingham politics graduate with a keen interest in social justice.

Main picture: Fiona McTaggart and shopkeeper Sabar Hussein