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Westward resident and Plymouth local, Sienna, has spent almost seven years campaigning and representing young people at the UK Youth Parliament, with the last two years being an elected member for Plymouth - all while rising to Sergeant in the Army Cadets. As she nears the end of her term, she reflects on her time there and her recent achievements.

“I love speaking, I love talking to people, I love understanding people.”

Sienna first became involved with Youth Parliament after her older sister Jordan took part. Encouraged by her mother, she and her twin sister Scarlett attended a few sessions “to see what the vibe was” and she has remained committed ever since.

What is UK Youth Parliament? The UK Youth Parliament is a national organisation that empowers young people aged 11–18 to use their voice for social change and engage in democratic processes. It provides a platform for over 300 elected MYPs to represent their peers' views to decision-makers, including holding an annual debate in the House of Commons.

Sienna’s passion is spreading awareness about violence against women and girls and this has been her main focus during her two‑year term as an elected member. “It’s one of the biggest issues we face in the city that’s not talked about enough,” she said. Sienna has supported local women’s charity Trevi and took part in their Warrior Woman walk alongside her sister, raising around £100.

Growing up in social housing has also shaped the perspective she brings to national conversations. “People who grow up wealthy… kind of lose sight of what it’s like on the other end of the spectrum,” she said. She regularly highlights affordability barriers that are often overlooked, such as the cost of sustainable clothing.

Alongside her political campaigning, Sienna has also dedicated her time to the Army Cadets, which she joined at 14 after seeing it advertised at school. “I was really shy… I didn’t like to talk to anyone,” she said. “But now I can kind of grow a backbone. I can speak for myself.”

Reaching the rank of Sergeant, the second-highest rank in her contingent, she now mentors younger cadets, teaches discipline, and leads groups in both practical and leadership tasks. She credits the organisation with helping her build confidence and resilience.

“It teaches you how to take care of other people… and how you're able to lead a group.”

Sienna’s commitment has earned her several accolades. In 2024, she won Inspirational Young Person of the Year at the Plymouth Youth Awards for her work with Youth Parliament. She also reached the selection stage of the Westminster Award, which recognises cadets with exceptional achievements outside the programme. She has received multiple Youth Parliament awards over the years and was the first in her Cadets year group to be promoted.

Her involvement has inspired many of her peers. Younger students have joined Cadets after seeing her progress, her brother is preparing to join his school’s Cadets and friends have signed up to Youth Parliament to make their own mark on the city. Through both groups, she has made friends from schools across Plymouth.

With her Youth Parliament term coming to an end and her time in Cadets soon drawing to a close, Sienna plans to spend the months ahead mentoring new members and supporting younger cadets stepping into leadership. “It’s not a hard role, but it’s also not an easy role,” she said. “I want to make sure they’re confident with what they’re doing.”

From a quiet 11-year-old to a confident public speaker and respected leader, Sienna’s journey shows the impact young people can have when they are trusted with responsibility and when they find a cause worth fighting for. We hope that she is an inspiration to other young people in our communities and shows what you can achieve if you put your mind to it. Well done Sienna and good luck for your bright future.

You can watch our full interview with Sienna below.