User:Luke wilkins/Luke Wilkins Erewash

Luke Wilkins (born Luke Samuel O'Neill Wilkins 31 March 1992) is dedicated to his community.

Early life
Born in Long Eaton, Luke has a large family of 6 brothers and 3 sisters who are the children of Graham and Judy Wilkins. He went to the Wilsthorpe Business and Enterprise College Studying GCSE’S and then went on to study a National Diploma in business at the Derby College in Derby City at the Joseph Wright Centre. He is a Christian attending both a Long Eaton Elim Pentecostal Church and The Salvation Army church also in Long Eaton.

Experience
In 2006 Luke was elected onto the Derbyshire Youth Council by his peers who voted in the 'junior style election' called the Big Vote. The Derbyshire Youth Council receives money from the Department for Children, Schools and Families called the Youth Opportunities Fund and Youth Capital Fund. He has grant issuing experience over a period of two years helping funding big projects locally such as, 'Petersham Muga' and 'Beat and Burn dance group'.

While on the Derbyshire Youth Council he got the opportunity to be a part of the UK Youth Parliament helping impact there key message and issues for the East Midlands. Also as part of the Youth Council he represented young people in Derbyshire on the Connexions (agency) management board specifically for Derbyshire and Derby City.

He has also been involved with a youth movement called 'The Youth Of Today' which is all about giving young people a positive image in their communities, Specifically he help with a project called 'The Youth Leadership Fund' which was lead by Young Foundation. The Youth Leadership fund is a pot of money he helped issue for projects to support young people to become leaders in their own communities.

Finally his main experience in 2009/2010 is with the Department for Children, Schools and Families project called Myplace, delivered by the Big Lottery Fund where he was choose to be one of the 5 young people to allocate £270 Million on world class youth facilities’ throughout the country. His experience was grant making and contributing in views of where the money should be spent in the UK.

Erewash Election
He is looking to stand as an Independent (politician) candidate at the United Kingdom general election, 2010 for the Erewash (UK Parliament constituency) in Derbyshire. Due to his age he could be the youngest candidate in the UK's 2010 general election, and if he's elected he will be Britain’s youngest current Politician.

He is standing independently because he doesn’t want to be tied down by a big political party and can represent the local people in Erewash by supporting their views. He aims to run a successful campaign, going up against the big political parties. The general election will take place on the 6th May 2010.

Refrences
Metro: McDonald's worker Luke Wilkins, 18, to stand in general election Ilkeston Adertiser: Election Daily Star: GENERAL ELECTION 2010: YOUNGEST MP SAVES UP WAGES TO TAKE PART Long Eaton teenager's bid to be youngest MP