Anya lives in New Cross and is a Year 10 student at Addey & Stanhope School. Last week she spent five days doing work experience with us in our constituency and Westminster offices. On her final day, she wrote this blog about her experience.

My one-week placement of work experience in Vicky Foxcroft’s office was an amazing and eye-opening experience of the work that goes behind the role of my MP which goes further than a politics lesson in school. It helped me gain a much more insightful and detailed understanding of the political decisions that affect many lives but also how a politician effectively operates on a daily basis.

On my first day at the office I was kindly greeted and welcomed by my supervisor Vicki. I was given a tour of the office and settled down at my own desk to promptly get to work. I was fascinated and intrigued by the different work environment and pleased to see that everyone was extremely friendly and supportive.

I met two amazing caseworkers, Carolyn and Carlotta whom introduced me to case working and I got started on learning about the child refugee reunification amendment alongside the issue of air pollution in Deptford and replying to constituents regarding these matters.

I spent an exciting and eventful day in Westminster alongside Vicky Foxcroft. I had a tour of Parliament and greatly improved my knowledge and history of its establishment. Moreover, I gratefully attended a topical question debate on health and social care in the house of commons. It was a surreal experience to see MP’s beyond the tv screen and have politicians discussing very important topics right in front of me. I also had the opportunity to meet with two charities, Endometriosis and Shelter. It was interesting to see the difference between work at parliament and then also work at the constituency’s office and the sort of cases that are brought to Vicky.

I spent the rest of my week in the office helping the constituency assistant Sarah to plan a big upcoming local event for Vicky. It was also a pleasure to be able to follow Vicky to a local primary school visit.

From this experience I’ve acquired a deeper and more knowledgeable passion for politics. It gave me a chance to learn more about people and how our world works and moreover how the decisions of our government affect everyday life. The more I’ve learnt the more I’ve realized how little I know and its intrigued me to further pursue my passion for politics and to make the world and especially my area of Lewisham Deptford a better place. I had an amazing and action-packed week of work experience which I wouldn’t change for anything.

I want to say a big thank you to the team. They were amazing and made my week informative as well as fun!