“Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”- Chinese Proverb.
In July, I was very fortunate to host an event at the Amnesty bookshop in York, where I am proudly a volunteer. I have been in correspondence with George Randall for over a year, and we often discuss the importance of young people’s opportunities in society. George has extensive experience in helping young people see the chances they have to get into local, and national level, leadership roles. It was a privilege to welcome him to York and have a conversation about the future in both Amnesty, and the country for people who are 30 and under. George has given much of his time to good causes and raising awareness about youth involvement in key policy decisions for a number of years. This bio reflects that.
“George became a member of both Amnesty and AI UK’s Children’s Human Rights Network Committee in May 2023, aged 15, then in 2024 he was elected to the Board, aged 16. He is also a member of AI UK’s Kent Network. Since June 2020, George has authored the blog Teen Politics, intending to deconstruct complex political and legal topics so they are accessible to young people, ultimately seeking to promote young people’s political engagement. He has also been an elected member of Kent Youth County Council for Thanet since 2021, (former member) campaigning on the issues most pertinent to young people in addition to representing and advocating for the views of young people to decision makers.”
I found the event fascinating because we had many students attending from different countries, so it was good to hear their questions to George, and the way other cultures value young people’s contributions. One strand of the conversation I found particularly informative, as a young writer, was the idea that different regions have different needs. Those in more rural counties like my home county of Cumbria, would seek different opportunities and ways to boost their life experiences to those based around bigger cities like Manchester and London. The conversation then moved to looking at both the new right to vote for 16-year-olds which will be implemented fairly soon, and the ban for 16-year-olds on social media. It is an interesting contrast of giving this age group more power of the right to vote for the leaders who govern, yet censoring what they can see online. This is a very topical discussion and it was great to hear George’s views on these points.
George’s advice to young people is to question what they can do, how they can get involved in local community groups at grassroots level and more specifically Amnesty group meetings. It was inspiring to be able to lead the conversation and see where it led. Often when attending events, I find that the focus is on the guest speaker, but those asking the questions and helping the conversation develop organically, are equally interesting to listen too. I feel strongly about all young people knowing that they DO have a vital part to play in the good work that goes on in local areas, and at national level, to give an authentic voice and what matters to young people now, in all areas of the U.K.
If you are interested in what Amnesty do, or want to join local youth work, ask those questions and it can lead to the most important answers and interactions. As a young writer, the people I meet, talk with and learn from, really inspire how I see the world and is often the way I find out about great work being done that I previously had no knowledge of.
Work Cited-
- “Amnesty”. Amnesty. Date accessed: 15th July 2026. URL: amnesty.org.uk/about/accountability/governance/meet-the-amnesty-international-uk-section-board/.
- “Wikipedia”. Wikipedia. Date accessed: 15th July 2026. URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty International.