Kache Nguzo, Redbridge Youth Council member

In Redbridge, over the past couple of weeks, the colour and warmth returned to our parks, heralding the beginning of spring.

With the long-awaited promise of reopening of non-essential retail, we took some time in the Youth Council to reflect the positive outcomes of lockdown.

From family time to finding hidden talents or new hobbies, we relished the cleaner roads and lush green parks surrounding us, which we tend to turn a blind eye to in daily life.

As we make our gradual return to daily life, I can only hope the people of Redbridge keep our parks and streets as green as possible, by picking up litter and being considerate for the areas in which we spent many hours in lockdown.

Ilford Recorder: Faizan Ahmed, RYP member, is campaigning to stop non-essential single-use plasticsFaizan Ahmed, RYP member, is campaigning to stop non-essential single-use plastics (Image: Redbridge Youth Council)

Faizan Ahmed, Redbridge Youth Parliament member

Environment is also a big issue at British Youth Council, where we have been working on tackling climate change and plastic pollution. This was identified as an issue from the Make Your Mark annual consultation last year.

Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace attended our last online event to talk about our latest campaign. The main aim is to eradicate non-essential single-use plastics by 2025 and ensure young people’s voices are heard at COP26, the global climate change conference which is being held in Glasgow later this year.

Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) from across London have written a letter to the government detailing what young people want the government to pledge at COP26.

Furthermore, MYPs from across the country will submit a letter to their MPs regarding the plastic pollution bill.