What's the problem here? With the average age of MPs at 50, and of councillors at 58, finding ways to inspire young people to engage in the democratic process and contribute to their community is vital to sustaining a healthy democracy. In previous years, political parties, trade unions and churches all played a role in developing the next generation of leaders but their role has now diminished.
More generally, The Youth of Today's Youth Leadership report identifies a problem with the professionalisation of public life - with paper qualifications increasingly determining progress rather than qualities such as judgment gained from life experience. Young people from less privileged backgrounds can be left out in the cold. And you can throw into the mix rising youth unemployment, plummeting faith in politicians, and young people facing a climate of intolerance and negative public attitudes.
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