House of Lords engagement programme
The House of Lords engagement programme connects members of the Lords with new audiences, particularly young people, and opens up new ways of explaining the work of Parliament's second chamber.
Learn with the Lords
Learn with the Lords provides a range of opportunities for young people aged 7 to 18 to engage with members of the House of Lords.
Through online and in-person sessions and events, members enrich classroom learning by explaining the wide range of crucial work that takes place in the House of Lords. Members from all walks of life take part, including former teachers, scientists, lawyers, cabinet ministers and senior civil servants.
There are different types of Learn with the Lords sessions:
Learn with the Lords online
In a 45-minute Microsoft Teams video call, school groups and home educators can put their questions to a member of the House of Lords. Since launching in 2020, this branch of the programme has connected over 30,000 young people, from across the UK, with a Baroness or Lord.
- Book a Learn with the Lords online session
Learn with the Lords in school
A two hour in-person visit by a member of the House of Lords to a secondary school or college. The member's presentation is curriculum-linked and focusses on the role, membership and work of the Lords, followed by questions from students.
- Apply for a Learn with the Lords in school session
Learn with the Lords in Parliament
Students visiting the UK Parliament are given the chance to hear first-hand from a member of the Lords. These question and answer sessions take place in the UK Parliament Education Centre for 20 minutes on certain Fridays.
Learn with the Lords special events
These curriculum-linked online events take the form of a panel discussion, 121 interview, or live stream of a key parliamentary event. Schools can submit questions for these events in advance, and they are broadcast via YouTube.
Learn with the Lords shadowing days
Shadowing days are where small groups of young people come to the UK Parliament to shadow a member at work for a day in the House of Lords.
Shadowing days give students an opportunity to see first-hand the breadth of work that members carry out day-to-day in the House of Lords, checking and challenging the work of government. Students from The Corby Sixth Form in Northamptonshire were the latest to take part in this, on 13 December 2023.
Book Learn with the Lords
Teachers, schools and home educators can book Learn with the Lords events on the UK Parliament Learning website.
Contact Learn with the Lords
Email learnwiththelords@parliament.uk or call us on 020 7219 2811 for further information and enquiries.
Environment and Climate Change Committee youth engagement programme
This is a unique chance for students 14-18 to experience House of Lords work first-hand.
The Environment and Climate Change Committee youth engagement programme includes:
- online sessions with committee members to discuss committee work and inquiries
- the opportunity to advise the committee on what questions to ask government ministers during inquiries
- a visit to your school or college from the chair of the committee, Baroness Parminter.
The Environment and Climate Change Committee will select schools and colleges to take part this summer and the youth engagement programme will begin in September 2023.
Debating Matters event
Sixth-form students from four schools battled it out for the title of Debating Matters House of Lords Champions 2023 at a day of debate at the House of Lords on Friday 10 March 2023. Four schools took part in three debates with members of the House of Lords participating as judges of the debates.
The next Debating Matters House of Lords Championships will take place on Friday 15 March 2024.
Previous House of Lords Chamber Events
The House of Lords chamber has opened its doors for inter-generational public debating events involving people from across the UK, as well as members of civic organisations and charities.
Chamber Event debates were chaired by the Lord Speaker and the subjects debated covered a wide range of topics.
UK Parliament Week
Parliament Week takes place every year in November. It engages people from across the UK with the work of the UK Parliament, explores what it means to them and empowers them to get involved.
Look out on House of Lords social media during Parliament Week 2023 (6-12 November) for highlights on the role of the House of Lords as Parliament's second chamber and how you can engage with its work.
Get involved online
Get involved with chamber, committee and engagement work online. Follow the House of Lords on social media.
Further information
- Get involved with the work of the House of Lords
- Find out more about UK Parliament education services
Image: Copyright House of Lords 2022