When are politicians most interested in listening to the views and problems of potential voters? When a general election looks imminent, of course.

That's now. So act fast and connect young people with their elected parliamentarians and the next set of wannabes. Order, order with the quick guide.

1. Don't oversell to young people what the experience of direct conversation with an MP is like. You may be able to create a lively debate and a genuine and fruitful exchange of views. But young people might also get a dull and bland civics speech. This may be unavoidable - some politicians are very set in their ways. But give yourself the best chance by devising a format that increases the chance of real communication. Mutual quizzes can be good. If the MP is keen to extend young people's knowledge of Parliament and the democratic processes, match it with a test of the MP's knowledge of young people's world.

2. Work with young people in advance of any meeting and try to strike a tone that is neither overly reverential nor dismissive. If they, or you, are overawed by the big name and the proximity to power, that can lessen the practical usefulness of the event. But so can world-weary cynicism and a belief that all politicians are untrustworthy or motivated only by desire for their own aggrandisement.

3. The better briefed you and young people are, the better the event will be. Take time to find out what issues interest young people, and also what interests the politicians. A good place to start on government generally, and on some issues that others have raised, is the youngGov web site, http://young gov.ukonline.gov.uk. To find out what your MP has been up to, visit www.theyworkforyou.com. Remember, most politicians have a sense of humour.

4. Some MPs run youth surgeries, where young people can raise personal problems or concerns. Yours might, but if they don't, why not suggest it? Get advice from those who have already tried it - a web search for MP and youth surgeries shows who leads the way.

The Hansard Society recommends online surgeries too. These are text-based and run in real time. They require no special software and, to participate, young people simply visit a web site. See explanations and contact details at www.hansardsociety.org.uk/node/view/293.

5. There is no need to restrict discussions to elected MPs. Other prospective parliamentary candidates may be glad to talk to young people.

Contact with the minor parties can prove better fun and a more fruitful political education. Without the burdens of office, they may feel more free to talk.

6. If all this is too ambitious, at least encourage young people to write a letter to their MP about something that matters to them. They will almost certainly get a response, which can be a big boost in itself. It's good to discover that MPs are nowhere near as distant and uncommunicative as, say, a service provider's call centre.