Southampton students inspire Parliament with their powerful views on child poverty

Students from Oasis Academy Lord's Hill in Southampton took to the Houses of Parliament last week to directly address policymakers about the profound impact of poverty on children’s lives and futures. 

The event, hosted by The Children’s Society and Oasis UK, marked the launch of a significant new report, "A Chance of Childhood," which urgently calls on the Government to prioritise the lived experiences of young people as it develops its ongoing child poverty strategy.

The Year 11 students from Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill played a central role in the report, sharing their firsthand accounts of how poverty affects their community and countless others nationally. Their insights, included within the paper, highlighted the daily challenges and limitations imposed by financial hardship.

During the parliamentary event, Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill student said: “We stand before you today not just as students, but as witnesses to the silent struggles of young people in our community trapped in poverty. Poverty is not just an economic issue; it is a cycle that suffocates ambition, crushes potential, and makes even the simplest impacts of home life unbearable.”

The event provided these young individuals with a crucial platform to directly convey the realities of growing up in poverty to key decision-makers, at a pivotal time ahead of the Government's planned Child Poverty Strategy. Their presentations were described as thoughtful and impactful, resonating deeply with attendees.

The event received significant attention from Members of Parliament, including Labour MP for Southampton Test. 

Speaking at the event, MP Satvir Kaur stated: “We can't continue to let down generation after generation of our young people. We must do everything we can to deliver a better and brighter future for all in Southampton, and this starts with putting an end to child poverty.”

"A Chance of Childhood" focuses on three critical areas of young people's lives: their experiences at school, at home, and within their wider community. The students from Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill emphasised the vital importance of inclusive, wraparound support systems to ensure all young people feel safe, happy, and empowered to flourish.

Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, expressed his gratitude, saying: “We are so grateful to the young people who have helped give their important insights to inform our report as well as speak to MPs and peers in Parliament. We want the government to listen and really hear what these young people are telling us. We all need to commit ourselves to fight for the change we need, so that every child has a good childhood, free from poverty, and where they’re able to thrive, not just survive.” 

John Parker, Director of Excellence at Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill in Southampton, proudly commented: “Everyone at Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill is so proud of our fantastic students for openly sharing their experiences and growing concerns as part of The Children’s Society’s report. Serving a brilliantly diverse and resilient community in Southampton, we know all too well of the growing challenges our young people face, particularly linking to poverty and the cost-of-living. While we continue to ensure all our students have everything they need to remain proud, kind, and determined to thrive in and out of school, we welcome the government to keep listening to young people as they frame their policies as part of the Child Poverty Strategy."

Lizzie Whitbread, Strategic Community Development Lead - Oasis Southampton, said: “The Oasis Academy Lord's Hill students were fantastic advocates for young people across our communities. They used their voices to challenge the situation of 4.5 million children living in poverty in this country and called for change to improve lives. They highlighted how poverty can impact school, family, and community life, and the need for a holistic approach addressing all these areas. They were a credit to their school and the community as a whole.”

Beyond their impactful presentations, the students were given a guided tour of Parliament and enjoyed engaging meaningful conversations with various MPs. 

Read more in the Daily Echo's coverage of this story here: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/25121995.southampton-oasis-academy-students-speak-parliament/.