This summer, I hosted the first of – I hope – many shadowing opportunities with two young people from Sheffield, Leena and Lily. Here’s what they had to say about the experience.
Leena – 17
What an eventful week it has been! When I first started shadowing Olivia, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect – however, this experience has impacted me in more ways than one!
Throughout the week there were so many eye-opening encounters, and no day was the same as the last. The passion of Olivia and her team was evident in every conversation, and witnessing their work first-hand was enlightening. Our trip to Dove Stone to meet with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) highlighted Olivia’s dedication to environmental conservation. It became clear to me that advocating for a cause requires more than just words – sometimes, it takes getting your hands dirty to make tangible change.
Engaging with constituents and listening to their concerns during my time shadowing was not at all what I expected, as each interaction was different. I learnt quickly that MPs take on an advisory role, navigating through sensitive topics and working closely with the community. Additionally, spending time with Olivia’s staff members provided insight, as each person had a unique background and expertise. Their commitment to inclusivity in representation and campaigning was evident, as despite their different backgrounds, they share the goal to create meaningful change.
As the week drew to a close, I found myself increasingly motivated to involve myself in local political activity. The experience has taught me that advocacy, teamwork, and empathy are the driving forces behind positive change. Shadowing Olivia has shown me that being an MP is more than just a job; it involves being a voice for communities that are often left unheard.
The week has left me with a desire to make a difference. I’ve learnt the value of perseverance and the relentless pursuit of change – something that I’m so grateful to have got from this experience.
Lily – 17
Shadowing Olivia was an amazing experience, and I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to be amongst such a great, kind team and to be able to learn so much. I first met Olivia, her team, and Leena on the day trip to Westminster. Sam, Olivia’s Chief of Staff, then gave us a tour of the hierarchical, historical maze that is Parliament where we witnessed the Speaker’s Procession, which had an element of suspense as everyone was moved out of the way before the Procession came. As historical and traditional as the Procession looked, I was informed that the route the Procession takes is actually something that was introduced only during WW2 due to the bomb damage to the House which caused the Speaker to have to pass through the central lobby; this practise was popular so was retained. I thought this showed some of the quirks of Westminster.
Olivia is part of the Public Accounts Committee and we sat at the back of a meeting, which was on active travel. The atmosphere was incredibly different from the partisan theatrics of PMQs presented to us in the media. Instead, it was a constructive cross-party conversation, holding the government to account.
Later in the day we attended a meeting with Rainbow Migration who represent a LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum who proposed many humane and sensible ideas to keep this group of people safer, such as limiting the amount of time people can be detained in our broken immigration system. It was great to see Olivia take a stance of support in this meeting – a huge difference from the way this issue is often used as political football.
We also attended a debate as our final activity in Westminster which was on whether the amount of APPGs a parliamentarian can be in should be limited. The debate saw the main opposition parties agree whilst a Conservative backbencher disagreed.
The day in Westminster gave me a greater appreciation for backbench MPs as I saw how their influence and roles within Parliament are notable. The A-level politics course tends to focus on the lack of power backbench MPs have but, in reality, their influence can go a long way as Olivia has proven in her recent campaigning which resulted in better care for people who go through miscarriages.
My first day shadowing Olivia in Sheffield included a trip to the Dove Stone reservoir peat bogs where I was informed what healthy peat should look like and how resilient it can be in the face of heatwaves once its condition is stable. I learnt that during the heatwaves of 2018 the water level dropped more than it did in the record temperature heatwave of 2022, post peat regeneration. In times where the climate crisis doesn’t always seem to be taken seriously, it was great to see an MP take such an interest in a habitat that might not be the most beautiful but is so beneficial for the environment.
During my time shadowing Olivia in Sheffield I also met the Sheffield Hallam case workers who, with Olivia, I learnt, deal with constituency issues to ensure the people of her constituency are represented in the best way possible. We had discussions with them learning of their journey to their jobs, their interests and asking questions, which they all answered in such great detail, ranging from party politics to the media. It was great to be around such knowledgeable people who clearly want to make a positive difference.
If you’d like to take part in the scheme, please watch out on my social media where I’ll be advertising another shadowing opportunity in the new year.