YOUNG people, such as myself, are the ones who will live with the EU referendum decision for the longest.

We need to make sure we are engaged in the debate and that our voices are heard.

However, we generally still find it difficult to push past "I'm only young, what can I do?".

Unfortunately, the 'my vote doesn't matter' team has become the favourite of younger generations.

So we need to do all we can to make sure that young people feel as though their vote matters in this referendum. 

Why should young people feel as though we should stay in the EU?

Open borders between EU countries means lovely, cheap inter railing gap years.

Easier travelling for young people enables us to immerse ourselves in other cultures and broaden our horizons creating a more accepting society.

The EU has demanded fairer data roaming charges and access to free, or cheaper, healthcare treatment.

In the South East, renowned for its educational excellence, the EU has delivered £100m to our universities, helped thousands of students to study abroad, and delivered significant funding for apprenticeship schemes.

It has helped EU students to study here. 

The EU has ensured young people are not forced to work excessive hours and has guaranteed everybody the right to paid holidays.

At home, the EU has delivered cleaner beaches, cleaner air, seas that are safe to bathe in, and a commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change on future generations.

As the ones to inherit these benefits, we really have every reason to stay and according to polls most young people are voting in.

Those same polls, however, estimate that only 43 per cent of 18-24 year-olds are expected to vote.

As this is more our issue than anyone else's, it's clear that young people need to feel as though their vote matters and that this really does affect them.

Let's not let our whole generation be ignored.

OLIVER J FAIREY
Roger Dudman Way
Oxford