UK Parliament Week
{{Short description|Annual series of events in the United Kingdom}}
UK Parliament Week, previously called Parliament Week, is an annual series of events in the United Kingdom that aim to inspire interest in parliament, politics and democracy and encourage young people and the public to engage with the UK's democratic system and institutions. Initiated in 2011, a week-long programme of events and activities is organised each year by the House of Commons and House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom in collaboration with hundreds of other organisations around the country including charities, schools, museums and community groups.{{cite web|title=Parliament Week|url=http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/parliament-week/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015}}{{cite news|title=UK Youth Parliament stages annual Commons debate|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30041158|access-date=18 January 2015|work=BBC|date=14 November 2014}}
History
The inaugural Parliament Week took place in 2011 between 31 October and 6 November with events taking place around the country.{{cite web|title=Events to be held around UK for Parliament Week|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/july/events-to-be-held-around-uk-as-part-of-parliament-week/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015|date=4 August 2011}}{{cite web|title=Peers in Schools for Parliament Week|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/november/peers-in-schools-for-parliament-week/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015|date=4 November 2011}}{{cite web|title=Parliament Week comes to Wales|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/september/parliament-week-comes-to-wales/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015|date=30 September 2011}}{{cite news|title=Parliament Week - The Speaker's Debate|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0170424|work=BBC|access-date=18 January 2015|date=5 November 2011}}{{cite news|title=How to teach … UK Parliament Weekaccess|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/oct/31/parliament-week-teaching-resources|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 January 2015|date=31 October 2011}} Running from 19 to 23 November, the schedule for 2012 included visits to schools and debates with school children.{{cite web|title=Lively schedule for Lords during Parliament Week 2012|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2012/november/lords-parliament-week-overview/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015|date=23 November 2012}}{{cite web|title=Peers in Schools for Parliament Week 2012|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2012/november/lords-peers-in-schools-parl-week-2012/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015|date=13 November 2012}}{{cite news|title=Parliament 2012: How to hack the House of Commons without anyone even trying to stop you|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/parliament-2012-how-to-hack-the-house-of-commons-without-anyone-even-trying-to-stop-you-8386762.html|access-date=14 May 2016|work=The Independent|date=5 December 2012|quote=Now in its second year, Parliament Hack, running in conjunction with Parliament Week...}} The third Parliament Week ran from 15 to 21 November 2013 and included events about women in democracy.{{cite web|title=Parliament Week 2013: Lords activities, discussions and debates|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2013/november-/lords-parliament-week-overview/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015|date=25 November 2013}}{{cite web|title=Parliament Week 2013: Education Resources|url=http://www.parliament.uk/education-resources/Parliament%20Week/Create%20the%20Debate%202013%20all%20lessons.pdf|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015}}{{cite web|title=Parliament Week: Cabinet Office opens its doors|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/parliament-week-cabinet-office-opens-its-doors|publisher=Cabinet Office and Office of the Parliamentary Counsel|access-date=18 January 2015|date=15 November 2013}}{{cite web|title=Parliament Week 2013 — Women in Democracy|url=http://www.filmclub.org/whats-new/details/1669/parliament-week-2013-women-in-democracy|publisher=Into Film|access-date=18 January 2015|date=15 November 2013}}{{cite web|title=Join Telegraph Wonder Women for an evening of debate: Is there such a thing as the women's vote?|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-politics/10452928/Join-Telegraph-Wonder-Women-for-an-evening-of-debate-Is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-womens-vote.html|work=Telegraph|access-date=18 January 2015|date=15 November 2013}} Since 2013, the European Parliament has held an entirely separate event for members of national parliaments under the name "European Parliamentary Week".{{Cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/relnatparl/en/conferences/european-parliamentary-week.html|title=European Parliamentary Week|website=European Parliament|access-date=15 May 2016}}{{cite book|editor1-last=Hefftler|editor1-first=Claudia|editor2-last=Neuhold|editor2-first=Christine|editor3-last=Rozenberg|editor3-first=Olivier|editor4-last=Smith|editor4-first=Julie|title=The Palgrave Handbook of National Parliaments and the European Union|date=2015|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-1-137-28913-1|page=99|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DqyYBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA99}}{{cite press release|title=European Parliamentary Week: MPs in Brussels to debate economy, jobs and budget|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160212IPR14103/European-Parliamentary-Week-MPs-in-Brussels-to-debate-economy-jobs-and-budget|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=15 May 2016|date=12 February 2016}}
Parliament Week 2014 took place from 14 to 20 November. Discussion topics included digital democracy and a social media campaign called "Do Democracy" which aimed to encourage 16- to 24-year-olds to make their views heard in Parliament and other democratic institutions across the UK.{{cite web|title=Programme of Events for Parliament Week 2014|url=http://www.psa.ac.uk/psa-communities/specialist-groups/schools/events/programme-events-parliament-week-2014|publisher=Political Studies Association|access-date=18 January 2015}}
In 2015, Parliament Week was held on 16–22 November and focused on "the future of democracy".{{cite web|title=Parliament Week 2015 campaign announcement|url=https://www.parliamentweek.org/blog/parliament-week-2015-campaign-announcement/|website=Parliament Week Blog|access-date=13 September 2015|date=22 May 2015}}{{cite web|title=The Future of European Democracy|url=http://www.demsoc.org/parliament-week/|access-date=14 May 2016}} It was coordinated with a year-long programme of events called "Parliament in the Making" which celebrated the 750th anniversary of the first English Parliament to include representatives of the towns and cities of England on 20 January 1265, and the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta on 15 June 1215.{{cite web|title=Parliament in the Making: 2015 Historic Anniversaries programme|url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/2015-parliament-in-the-making/2015-historic-anniversaries/an-introduction-to-parliament-in-the-making/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015}}{{cite web|title=2015 Anniversaries: An Update|url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/house/Papers/2013-14/180613/M2-13-14-06-2015-Anniversaries.pdf|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=18 January 2015|date=11 June 2013}}
The official name of the event was changed in 2016 to "UK Parliament Week" from "Parliament Week". This change was intended to signify the emphasis on delivering events throughout the United Kingdom and to help distinguish it from activities relating to other Parliaments and Assemblies in the UK: the Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru and Northern Ireland Assembly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/blog/welcome-to-the-new-look-uk-parliament-week/|title=Welcome to the new look UK Parliament Week|date=18 April 2016|website=UK Parliament Week|access-date=15 May 2016}} Parliament Week was held on 14–20 November 2016 which saw 280 events take place around the country including a visit to a school by cabinet minister, Chris Skidmore (Minister for the Constitution).{{cite web|title=Thank You!|url=https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/blog/thank-you/|publisher=UK Parliament Week|access-date=11 December 2016|date=2 December 2016}}{{cite press release|title=Parliament Week 2016: Minister meets school children in Manchester|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/parliament-week-2016-minister-meets-school-children-in-manchester|publisher=Cabinet Office|access-date=11 December 2016|date=15 November 2016}}
Parliament Week 2017 was held on 13–19 November during which 4,596 events took place across the UK involving 360,000 people.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/blog/uk-parliament-week-2017-the-highlights/|title=UK Parliament Week 2017: The Highlights UK Parliament Week|website=www.ukparliamentweek.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-12}} In 2018, Parliament Week was held on 12–18 November. It focused on events celebrating 100 years of women's suffrage in parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom and all men getting the vote. This was coordinated with Parliament's "Vote100" events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/blog/vote-100/|title=Vote 100 UK Parliament Week|website=www.ukparliamentweek.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-12}} It involved almost 1 million people and more than 8,100 activities.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-05 |title=Hindu organisation to celebrate UK Parliament Week 2019 |url=https://www.easterneye.biz/hindu-organisation-to-celebrate-uk-parliament-week-2019/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=EasternEye |language=en-GB}}
In 2019, Council of British International Schools around the world were encouraged to participate in UK Parliament Week, taking place form 2–8 November.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cobis.org.uk/students/cobis-student-competitions/uk-parliament-week-2019|title=UK Parliament Week 2019 - Council of British International Schools|website=www.cobis.org.uk|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-30}} The Church of England and Nottingham Trent University also participated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/parliament-week-get-involved|title=Parliament Week - get involved|website=The Church of England|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ntu.ac.uk/c/parliament-week|title=Parliament week|website=www.ntu.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30}} Over 1.2 million people took part across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and in 47 other countries around the world.{{Cite magazine |date=2020-10-29|title=UK Parliament Week celebrates its tenth year with over 950 events taking place across East England |url= |magazine=Essex Magazine|language=en-GB}}{{unreliable source?|reason=source is blacklisted;|date=May 2023}} The 2020 UK Parliament Week, its tenth year, supported Make Your Mark, a British Youth Council campaign providing an opportunity for 11-18 year-olds across the UK to vote on policies they would like to introduce or change.
There were 10,000 activities organised in 2021 in every region and nation of the UK, and in many other countries around the world, in which 1.1 million people took part.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2022 |title=UK Parliament Week returns for 2022 |url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2022/july-2022/uk-parliament-week-returns-for-2022/ |website=UK Parliament}} The Open University's OpenLearn platform marked UK Parliament Week 2022 with a new 'social change' course.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-14 |title=The Open University |url=https://ounews.co/arts-social-sciences/openlearn-marks-uk-parliament-week-with-new-social-change-course/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=OU News |language=en-GB}} A Hindu community group, which has been involved in UK Parliament Week since 2018, organised a debate about climate change.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-14 |title=Hindu group takes part in UK Parliament Week with environmental debate |url=https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/hindu-group-takes-part-in-uk-parliament-week-with-environmen-9289222/ |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=Newbury Today |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-30 |title=Hindu community in Peterborough hosts event to celebrate democracy for UK Parliament Week |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/people/hindu-community-in-peterborough-hosts-event-to-celebrate-democracy-for-uk-parliament-week-4889496 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Peterborough Telegraph |language=en |quote=HSS UK chapters hosted UK Parliament Week activities up and down the country, engaging with the Parliament and councils and exploring what it means to have a say in a vibrant democracy.}} In November 2023, more than 11,000 events were planned across the country, as well as in the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories.{{Cite web |date=3 November 2023 |title=UK Parliament Week 2023 to be marked across the country |url=https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/media-relations-group/press-releases/3-november-uk-parliament-week-2023-to-be-marked-across-the-country/ |website=UK Parliament}} UK Parliament Week in 2024 took place from 18-24 November.{{Cite web |title=UK Parliament Week 2024 |url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2024/november/uk-parliament-week-2024/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.parliament.uk |language=en}} During the week, the Speaker of the House of Commons met young students holding a ‘Pupil Parliament’;{{Cite web |title=Speaker hails student debaters for future-proofing democracy |url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2024/november/speaker-hails-student-debaters-for-future-proofing-democracy/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.parliament.uk |language=en}} and a number of MPs and MSPs met elderly residents in care homes in their constituencies.{{Cite web |last=Mulligan |first=Alfie |date=2024-11-25 |title=Residents at care home enjoy visit from Salford MP for UK Parliament Week |url=https://www.salfordnow.co.uk/2024/11/25/residents-at-salford-care-home-enjoy-mp-visit-for-uk-parliament-week/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Salford Now |language=en-GB |postscript=none}}; {{Cite web |date=2024-11-27 |title=Residents at Alloa Care Home Enjoy MP Visit for UK Parliament Week |url=https://thecareruk.com/residents-at-alloa-care-home-enjoy-mp-visit-for-uk-parliament-week/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The Carer |language=en-GB |postscript=none}}; {{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Residents at Glasgow care home enjoy MSP visit for UK Parliament Week |url=https://www.scotsman.com/community/residents-at-glasgow-care-home-enjoy-msp-visit-for-uk-parliament-week-4882287 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The Scotsman |language=en |postscript=none}}; {{Cite web |last=Preece |first=Elliot |date=2024-11-25 |title=Residents at Radcliffe care home enjoy MP visit for UK Parliament Week |url=https://www.financial-news.co.uk/residents-at-radcliffe-care-home-enjoy-mp-visit-for-uk-parliament-week/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Financial News |language=en-GB |postscript=none}}; {{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=Residents At Benfleet Care Home Enjoy MP Visit For UK Parliament Week |url=https://thecareruk.com/residents-at-benfleet-care-home-enjoy-mp-visit-for-uk-parliament-week/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The Carer |language=en-GB |postscript=none}}; {{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Residents at Ayr care home enjoy MSP visit for UK Parliament Week |url=https://www.scotsman.com/community/residents-at-ayr-care-home-enjoy-msp-visit-for-uk-parliament-week-4882161 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The Scotsman |language=en |postscript=none}}; {{Cite web |date=2024-11-21 |title=Residents at Chorlton care home enjoy MP visit for UK Parliament Week |url=https://www.liverpoolworld.uk/community/residents-at-chorlton-care-home-enjoy-mp-visit-for-uk-parliament-week-4881893 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=LiverpoolWorld |language=en |postscript=none}}; {{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=MP and MSPs visit HC-One care homes for UK Parliament Week |url=https://www.nationalworld.com/community/mp-and-msps-visit-hc-one-care-homes-for-uk-parliament-week-4882282 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=NationalWorld |language=en}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/ UK Parliament Week website]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk6lVve2NlU Video: Magna Carta, Simon de Montfort, and the emergence of Parliament] UK Parliament
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yr1Dj8jKv8 Video: A brief history of representation in nearly 60 seconds] UK Parliament
- [http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whats-on/online/parliament-week Parliament Week: Stories of Democracy] The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford