Students given a lesson in the law and politics from Parliament outreach team

Students and school pupils were given a lesson in how Parliament works and laws are made at Wrexham Glyndŵr University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Liz Price,Wales’ Senior Community Outreach and Engagement Officer for the Houses of Parliament, spoke to a group from the university’s Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ) degree about the ins-and-outs of life at Westminster. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They were joined by pupils from Hope’s Castell Alun High School, whose Humanities Learning Manager David Goodchild said the event helped develop their understanding of politics and the role of government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It was certainly of benefit to the students; it helped them further develop their insight into the role of Parliament and how it impacts on their lives,” said David. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“They especially valued the opportunity to consider how they can influence MPs and lobby them to create change. Several expressed that it had caused them to consider a career in politics.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kane Peters, studying A-level politics at Castell Alun, agreed it was an “interesting and informative session” that greatly enhanced his understanding of the working of Parliament, and Vale Watterson, a student in CCJ at Wrexham Glyndŵr, added that it was “enlightening and enjoyable”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lecturer Dr Caroline Hughes and work experience officer Lucy Jones had invited Liz to the institution to deliver two sessions via the Lottery-funded project ADOR; the first on myth-busting the UK Parliament, asking how it works and what function it provides. The second looked at how laws are made and how criminal justice relates to Parliament. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Discussions were also held over the imminent construction of the Wrexham ‘super-prison’, which is set to employ up to 1,000 people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Hughes thanked Liz for attending, and said: “Having the A -level students join us strengthened the impact of our Parliament outreach session. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Speakers like Liz really contribute to our criminal justice curriculum by demonstrating how Parliament links to the creation of laws within the UK.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Liz added: “We had some really interesting questions and used a quiz and other interactive elements to get everyone thinking about how the UK Parliament is relevant to them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s so important to be aware of what happens at our Parliament, and the difference between Parliament and government – as it affects all of our lives every day – and it’s an institution that relies on people getting involved to make it work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For more on Criminology and Criminal Justice at Wrexham Glyndŵr University, visit www.glyndwr.ac.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​