The Student Association (SA), is taking part in the annual Make Your Mark ballot, the largest consultation of young people in the country.

In a national ballot, running from 12 August until 9 October 2015, young people across the country will be asked what issues matter most to them, in order to determine what is debated by the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) in the House of Commons on 13 November. Voting takes place both online and through ballot papers issued in schools and youth centres.

Students were given the opportunity to choose from 10 policies on the initial Make Your Mark ballot paper. The five most popular policies, among young people, will go on to be discussed by Members of Youth Parliament (MYP's) in their November debate, chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP and broadcast live on BBC Parliament.

Last year’s Make Your Mark ballot saw an increase of 400,000 to over 875,000 young people taking part, making it the largest youth consultation of its kind in the UK. This year, MYPs have set themselves a target of getting 1,000,000 young people involved.

Barnabas Balint, SA Environmental Officer, who was instrumental in getting the College involved in the Make Your Mark campaign said, “I am grateful to the UKYP for this opportunity to engage young people with politics and am proud that my fellow students at the College for their outstanding response to this.

On the first day of us opening the poll, nearly 300 students cast their votes, with over 500 taking part overall. This is a great opportunity, one which I am happy to say that Farnborough students fully grasped. It has been fantastic to see the lively debate among students that this has sparked."

Nathan Scott, Curriculum Manager for Government and Politics commented, “It is so encouraging to see the students getting so involved in political issues. We are constantly told that young people are apathetic and uninterested in political issues, in my experience nothing could be further from the truth. Congratulations need to be sent to the Student Association for helping Farnborough Sixth Form to 'make its mark'!”

Find out more about the UK Youth Parliament.