Rt Hon Michael Howard, QC MP puts ‘Politiks’ on the agenda - 24 May, 2006

Student-run Production Company brings novel twist to young people's politics

Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP, the former leader of the Conservative Party, is the star of the first ‘Politik' event taking place on Tuesday June 6 in Parliament. The event is organised by Catch21 Productions, the brainchild of students at Hull University.

Catch21 was set up to increase young people's awareness of and participation in political issues. It provides a public forum for representatives across the political spectrum to leave aside the party political packaging and look at individual issues raised by young people themselves.

Catch21 is teaming up with the Hansard Society to invite 16-25-year-olds to take part in an hour long show on Tuesday June 6, co-presented by members of the Catch21 project. The style of the meeting will be smart-casual and informative in order to humanise politics and make it more appealing to young people, featuring topics that are relevant to them. The first half of the meeting will consist of an interview, with the second half allowing the audience to pose questions to the show's guest Michael Howard MP.

Michael Howard MP commented: "The joint Hansard Society/Catch21 event is a welcome innovation. It provides young people with a vehicle to have their voices heard by parliamentarians and is a memorable introduction to formal political processes. I look forward to discussions with young people on the night."

Catch21 is currently organising further events all over the UK, which will feature guests; George Galloway and David Blunkett to name a few. Primarily funded by The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, who also funded The Power Inquiry, Catch21 sees itself as the next logical step towards encouraging young people to vote. Its objectives are to attract those that are not interested in politics by fusing their interests with those who are.

For further information or to attend the Michael Howard event on June 6 contact Alex Sergent at Catch21 on 07968 094349 or Virginia Gibbons at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225

Notes for editors

• The Catch21 team would welcome interviews with both national and local press. They are contactable through Alex Sergent, Catch21 Project Co-ordinator on 07968 094349 or alternatively visit wwww.catch21.co.uk, where you can also download the Catch21 Podcast to listen to our shows.

• The Hansard Society is an educational charity that exists to promote parliamentary democracy. It develops and promotes online and offline activities that bring young people and decision maker together to engage in participatory democratic activity.

• The Hansard Society's Citizenship Education Programme works with young people through schools and colleges to educate and inform them about parliamentary democracy and develop innovative ways to involve them in participatory democratic activities.