Kate, 20 It's fairly well known that MPs hold surgeries for young people in their constituencies but it's something that young people are scared to go forward to. They think you only go if you've got an axe to grind or the lamp post on the end of your street isn't working, and that your MP is someone who's unapproachable. It needs to be two-ways and politicians should instigate the conversation because young people feel intimidated doing that.

Muhammad, 19 Politicians can hold regular youth surgeries and visit schools to engage with young people and encourage them to participate in different activities, politics and their community.

Rachael, 20 My school had politicians come in quite regularly to talk to us and have debates. That was really good because you got to know who your politicians were, and that really helped because when it came to elections and you were old enough you knew a face and you knew what they stood for. If they get involved in youth clubs and universities, even by just going down once a month and helping out, they'd see what young people actually do and what problems they have and that would give them greater insight and realise we're not all scary!

Sophie, 19 As politicians recognise that young people are important voters for them - and perhaps as young people are allowed to vote at 16 or 17 - politicians will become more interested. But in the meantime I would say if I had heard a single policy that was not negative about young people then I might be more interested in hearing from them. Negative policy from politicians is what perpetuates the vicious circle in the first place. It means that journalists are more keen to report negatively about young people because nobody really minds whether we are made a target or not.

Emma, 19 So often people say that young people aren't interested in politics or their community and that is really not true. I think there are lots of things that have demonstrated that young people are involved in politics; just not formal politics. Politicians need to engage in those less conventional methods. Young people like to protest for example, so if it's a good cause like Make Poverty History, politicians can join them in their protest and show their support for it and join in the sort of things that young people actually like to be doing. In schools there's a lot of opportunity for politicians to go into citizenship lessons, too.

Emily, 23 Young people aren't the enemy; they are part of society just like anyone else. Their views are important and should be sought. I think forums and politicians going into schools, breaking down the barriers, would just make things so much better and then young people would not feel as if politics is something that doesn't affect them.

Katie, 17 Politicians should just try and actually get to know young people and not just judge them on the stereotype that every young person is part of an anti-social group. They should take the time to go into schools and have seminars with young people, actually talk to them and get to know what they're like and see that anti-social people are really in the minority and the majority of young people are respectful citizens.