A YOUTH member of parliament has been drumming up support for a ‘curriculum to prepare us for life’.

Pendle representative Jack Cooke is calling on Education Secretary Michael Gove to ensure that every youngster receives an education in politics, sex and relationship, cultural awareness, community cohesion, finance skills and sustainable living, by making them compulsory parts of the national curriculum.

The 15-year-old has been trying to gain as much support as possible for the proposals through schools and by petitioning on the streets of Nelson and Colne.

Jack said: “We need to get back to basics with our education. Teaching young people how to manage their money, how politics works in their favour and why we live in diverse communities is extremely important.

“It is fantastic that so many people were eager to support this campaign.

“A special mention must go to SS John Fisher and Thomas More Catholic Humanities College and Pendle Vale Community College, both in Colne, for being so supportive in sending the campaign around their schools.”

‘A curriculum to prepare us for life’ has been the UK Youth Parliament’s national campaign since it was voted the nation’s priority for young people by MYPs in 2012.”

The petitions are to be sent to UKYP’s head office in London and Jack said he hoped they had collected enough to have a review by MPs.

Jack recently shadowed Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson for a fortnight to see what it is like to represent the constituency.

He sat in the gallery in the Commons taking notes on Parliamentary debates, helped respond to constituents and attended meetings including with Bruce Keogh, author of the review into hospital failings.