Recently, we, a group of Year 10 and 11 students from Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill in Southampton, travelled to the House of Commons. But we weren’t just there to visit, we were there to speak. To be heard. And to represent the 4.3 million children across the UK living in poverty. 

We were invited to present our views as part of the launch of ‘A Chance of Childhood,’ a national report by The Children’s Society and Oasis UK. The report focuses on how poverty impacts young people’s lives at school, at home, and in the community. The goal? To make sure the government listens to the people who actually live through these struggles when shaping its Child Poverty Strategy. 

We stood in Parliament and spoke not just as students, but as witnesses. As young people who have lived these experiences and seen what poverty really looks like. We talked about the realities that don’t always make it into policies or news headlines: missed meals, mental strain, overcrowded homes, the weight of extra responsibilities, and the feeling of being forgotten. 

As Ronak said: “Poverty is not just an economic issue; it is a cycle that suffocates ambition, crushes potential, and makes even the simplest parts of home life unbearable.” 

We each focused on a part of life where poverty hits the hardest. At school Ria and Liana talked about students going without lunch, missing out on school trips, and struggling to focus in class because they’re hungry or worried: “If the education system is going to support every child, it needs to work for every child,” Liana reminded MPs. 

At home, Bigun, Jacquline, Krish and Amber shared how poverty impacts family life, from older siblings taking on adult responsibilities, to tension and anxiety caused by overcrowded housing and financial pressure. “Poverty is not just a statistic,” Bigun said. “It is a student falling asleep in class because they had to work after school. It is a teenager giving up on their education because survival is more urgent than ambition.” 

In our communities, Jennifer, Tiana and Niall spoke about the lack of safe places to go, the risk of crime and gang exploitation, and how young people in underfunded areas can feel abandoned. “Where do we go when the school day ends?” Niall asked. “Without constructive activities, guidance and mentorship, we are effectively abandoning our generation to the streets.” 

We weren’t just there to share our stories; we were there to demand change. “We refuse to accept that this is the future for so many young people,” said Amber. “And we hope that you, as our leaders, refuse to accept it too.” 

As part of report, we urged MPs to: 

• Provide better financial support for families in need 

• Fund free school meals for all who need them 

• Raise wages so parents can spend time with their children, not just work multiple jobs 

• Invest in youth services and safe community spaces 

Over 70 MPs attended the event, including our local MP for Southampton Test, Satvir Kaur, who told us: “You’re right to challenge us and the system that has failed you… We must do everything we can to deliver a better and brighter future and tackle child poverty.” 

We were also proud to meet Mark Russell, CEO of The Children’s Society, who thanked us for sharing our stories and said: “We want the government to really hear what these young people are telling us... Every child deserves to thrive, not just survive.” 

For us, this experience wasn’t just about standing in Parliament. It was about standing up for every young person who feels ignored, unseen, or left behind. As Rifat said in her closing words: “Think about the 4.3 million children who are involuntarily forced to face these struggles every day. Now, imagine if these children were your own. Would you accept that future for them?” 

We hope our voices, and the voices of millions of others like us, will continue to echo in those corridors of power. We’re proud to be part of a school, and a wider Oasis community, that stands with us and believes in fighting for a better future. We may be young, but we are not powerless. And we’re just getting started. Because we believe every child deserves a chance. A chance at education. A chance at safety. A chance of childhood. 

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/.