On November 12th, thirteen of our Campaign Champions from across the UK travelled to London to make a case for investing in global education. Our annual action day usually takes place in June, but this year was postponed due to the election. The Campaign Champions had a full day of high-level meetings and activities in Parliament, including a tour, meetings with Minister Dodds and civil servants from the FCDO Girls’ Education Department, a viewing in the public gallery, and a 2-hour session with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Education for Parliamentarians to drop-in and hear about the Campaign Champion’s demands to invest in education for emergencies. 

Read Iman’s, a student from Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton, account of the day:

“Upon arriving at Parliament, we were given an insightful tour by Bambos Charalambous MP, who guided us through the iconic Palace of Westminster. As we explored the building’s vast, art-filled rooms, he led us through the historic halls, offering a glimpse into the heart of British politics. We had the opportunity to visit both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, gaining a deeper understanding of their significance. To top it off, we experienced a live general debate from the public gallery in the House of Commons, which provided us with a fascinating and firsthand look at parliamentary proceedings in action.

We would like to extend our thanks to Anneliese Dodds, the Minister of State for Development, for taking the time to meet with us. During our discussion, we shared our perspectives on education, which appeared to inspire her to approach the issue with a fresh perspective. Additionally, we had a productive meeting with three civil servants, where we exchanged ideas and made a compelling case for prioritising education. We urged the government to increase funding for education, emphasising its critical importance for global development and the future of children everywhere.

Shortly after, we participated in the MP drop-in session, where MPs and members of the House of Lords joined us to discuss the urgent need for education in emergencies. It was incredibly empowering to engage in meaningful conversations with them and see our ideas resonate, reinforcing the critical importance of ensuring access to education even in times of crisis.”

An unexpected bonus of the day, was witnessing the announcement by Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, of the government’s new National Youth Strategy from the public gallery. 

To cap the day off, four Campaign Champions went on to No.10 Downing Street to hand in a campaign letter written by them asking Sir Keir Starmer to commit to making global education a UK priority with stronger investment. 

Below are reflections from Campaign Champions about their experience:

“Overall, this trip was a perfect blend of learning and advocacy. I left London feeling proud of our efforts to bring attention to education in emergencies and I am now inspired to continue making a difference.” – Alessandro, Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton

“I think it’s important as it’s good to raise awareness to children at a young age so we can have these conversations with decision makers as we are the next generation and it’s good for us who are currently in the education system and experiencing it to voice our opinions. These skills can also be really useful for the future and help decision makers get new and different perspectives.” – Amaya, Croxley Danes School, Hertfordshire

“Voicing out the beliefs of people, particularly young people in our community about the right of access to education for all children to parliamentarians felt empowering. I hope that our words get put across into actions and that soon we are able to see a positive change, for the better” Iman, Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton

The Campaign Champions’ power and eloquence were palpable on the day, leaving an impression on all who met them and strengthening the call for access to education in emergencies. Indications of the impact of their ongoing advocacy have already become apparent. 

Bambos Charalambous MP included education in a speech he gave on debt the following day, a topic repeatedly raised by the Campaign Champions with those they met with, specifically mentioning the Send My Friend campaign twice. 

The following week, the FCDO announced a £14 million top-up in funding to Education Cannot Wait, the global fund for education in emergencies, to increase support for education in South Sudan, a crisis which the Campaign Champions highlighted during their meeting with Minister Dodds. The full impact of the day is likely still to be seen and could help shape the way the new UK Government approaches development and its prioritisation of education within its international agenda.

Global access to a quality education is not just a policy goal—it’s a lifeline for the next generation, and young people have the power to make it a reality; your voice, your passion, and your actions can spark the change the world so urgently needs.