Personal Specification
It would be helpful if an MYP had the following attributes:

1. Be committed, lively and outgoing
2. To have an interest in relevant issues and be prepared to have a view on topical issues.
3. Be able to listen to and respect the views of his/her peer group.
4. Take their responsibilities seriously
5. Not be afraid to speak their mind.
6. Not be afraid to ask for support, advice and help if required.
7. To have a sense of humour!

Membership

1. Anyone is entitled to stand as an MYP providing they are a resident of the UK, and are aged between the ages of 11 and 18 (inclusive).
2. All MYPs must have been elected by a public election process.
3. The UKYP is an independent national body, and as such its members should not represent a party political view.
4. The discussions of the UKYP should be solely issue based.

Terms Of Office
The term of office for MYPs is for one year from 1^st February to the 31^st January.

Areas Of Responsibility

1. The UKYP will ensure that the young people of the UK are given a voice on any issue that affects them and as laid out in Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as long as it does not affect the rights of others. As an elected MYP your duty is towards:
   The young people who voted for you;
   The young people who didn't vote for you;
   Every young person in your LEA/Constituency
2. The UKYP will respect the issues as laid out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to ensure that every young person who is participates in the work of the UKYP, has his/her rights respected and protected.
3. Any young person up to and including the age of 18, has the right to have his/her views heard and listened to by the UKYP.
4. As an MYP it is important that you take your role and duty seriously when you are representing the UKYP, both in and outside the UKYP meetings and events.
5. To establish a line of regular formal communication with local government structures, e.g.– Parish/Town Councils, District Councils and County/Borough Councils, and MPs; and equivalent structures in all UKYP Regions.
6. To liaise with locally established groups, such as youth and school councils and branches of voluntary organisations, e.g. – scouts, guides, etc.
7. It is important to respect and listen to what others are saying and to continue to respect someone's point of view at all times.
8. An MYP should not be absent from 2 or more consecutive regional meetings without sending apologies, and having a valid excuse.

Accountability
Elected by members of their peer group, MYPs have a duty to be accountable to the people who elected them, i.e. – they have a duty to represent their views.  The issue of accountability has been included in the Terms Of Reference, to outline the procedure to be followed if MYPs or Deputy MYPs believe that a fellow MYP is not fulfilling his/her duties, as outlined under Areas of Responsibility.

In order to hold a vote of no-confidence a minimum of 15 MYPs and/or their Deputies should:

1. Share their concerns in writing with their Procedures Group representatives and Regional Co-ordinator.
2. Having shared their concerns, and if the Procedures Group representatives for the region unanimously believe that the concerns are valid, based on the evidence presented; then the MYPs/Deputies will inform their Regional Co-ordinator, providing at least 14 days notice prior to their next Regional meeting, that they wish to propose a Vote of No-Confidence, in order that the Regional Co-ordinator may oversee the process and ensure that both sides are enabled to put forward their case fairly.
3. The vote of no confidence will then be held at the following regional meeting, and all MYPs and their Deputies will be informed, a minimum of seven days in advance of the meeting.
4. At the Regional Meeting both sides will be given a maximum of five minutes to present their case, and a vote will then be held.
5. All MYPs and Deputy MYPs who attend the Regional meeting will be able to vote.
6. The Regional Co-ordinator must keep records of the vote so that it may be verified.
7. A simple majority is required for the vote of no confidence to be passed, i.e. – if 51% + of MYPs and Deputies who vote have no confidence in the MYP/Deputy, then that person is deselected and the Local Authority will be asked to nominate their new MYP/Deputy MYP who must have been elected by the local young people.

Discipline Procedure

1. If the elected members of the UKYP feel that an MYP has broken the guidelines as laid out in the Terms Of Reference and/or Code of Conduct.  The UKYPs Disciplinary Procedure will be applied.

Meetings

1. An MYP should attend any local/regional meetings as organized by the UKYP.
2. An MYP should attend the annual sitting of the Youth Parliament.
3. MYPs have a duty to arrive at meetings on time, and to make sure that there are transport arrangements to and from the place of meeting.
4. If an MYP is unable to attend a UKYP meeting they should inform their adult support worker, and or the Regional Co-ordinator.
5. Regular breaks will be contracted into all UKYP meetings.  It is important that you try to wait until a break before leaving the meeting room, as it can be very disruptive to the meeting.
6. When an MYP wishes to make a point or ask a question, they should indicate their intention by raising their hand and waiting for the Chair to invite them to speak.
7. When talking, an MYP should try not to take over the meeting or prevent others from speaking.  It is important to give everyone a chance to talk and take part in the meeting.
8. It is the duty of the individual MYPs to actively support the work of the UKYP Select Committees and Procedure Group.

Voting
Each MYP is entitled to one vote at regional meetings and the national sitting.

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