Andrew Mitchell MP has met with a group of Sutton Coldfield young people taking part in the UpRising Birmingham Leadership Programme to talk about his role as a local MP well as his international social action work as Secretary of State for International Development. The programme which is run by the Young Foundation, is directed at talented young people aged 19-25 who live, work or study in Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham. It aims to equip them with the skills, experience and confidence to become future leaders in politics and public life as well as to change their communities for the better. Over the course of the programme UpRisers receive training from leading journalists, politicians and activists. They also run their own social action projects. Previous participants have successfully lobbied for legislation change, started their own social enterprises and been elected to local government. Over the course of the hour Andrew Mitchell MP heard from each member of the nine strong group who introduced their individual social action projects to him. These ranged from ideas to promote religious cohesion, raising the aspirations of young people and encouraging youth participation. Andrew then spoke about his experiences as International Development Secretary as well as his first hand experience of social action on the Conservative Party’s Project Umubano in Rwanda. Sutton’s MP then took questions from the students on a wide variety of topics. Andrew Mitchell MP said, “Social action brings societies together, be it here in Birmingham or in Rwanda. It was great to meet these enthusiastic young people who are working hard on their own social action projects.” Photo: Andrew Mitchell MP with Birmingham UpRisers at his office in Sutton Coldfield.