Democracy works when you do.
transparenC gives you the data. This page gives you the map: how to use it, how to make your voice heard, and how people at every stage of life can push for the change they want to see.
How to use transparenC
Five steps from "I'm curious" to "I'm taking action."
Start with the Issues page. Choose NHS, housing, the economy, crime, environment, immigration or education to see the data in plain English — or read the Learn guide for how the system works.
Browse issues →The Parties page shows every major party's pledges with a labelled delivery status — from Delivered to Off track — each with its evidence and source. All parties are assessed against the same published rubric.
Check pledges →Government contracts, MP expenses, party donations and lobbying are all in one place. Search by keyword, company or minister. Every entry links to the original public record.
Search contracts →Enter your postcode to find your MP, their voting record, how they've claimed expenses, and how to contact them directly. Make it personal.
My area →Sign open petitions, write to your MP, share verified data on social media, or use the tools here to research an issue before a local meeting or debate.
Sign a petition →Everyone has a role. Here's yours.
Political participation isn't just voting. It's a spectrum of actions — and different stages of life open different doors.
Under 16Democracy starts here
You can't vote yet — but your generation will live with these decisions for the longest. Understanding politics now is one of the most powerful things you can do.
Use the Issues pages to understand NHS waiting lists, climate policy, housing or education in plain numbers — no spin, no opinion, just data.
Bring real data into conversations with family, friends and teachers. Saying 'did you know A&E has missed its 4-hour target every month since 2015?' is more powerful than an opinion.
School councils, mock elections, Model Parliament and Debate Club all count. These are real civic muscles — and your school is a miniature democracy.
You don't need to be 18 to contact your MP. They represent everyone in their constituency, including you. A well-researched letter from a young person is noticed.
Share accurate data about issues affecting young people — education funding, mental health services, climate targets. Misinformation spreads fast; facts spread further with your help.
16 – 17Almost there — and already powerful
16 and 17-year-olds can vote in Scottish Parliament, Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and local elections in Scotland and Wales. In England and Northern Ireland, the vote arrives at 18 — but influence starts now.
You can register at 16 to vote in devolved elections. Check gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes 5 minutes and you'll be on the register for future UK general elections too.
Every major party has a youth wing with reduced membership fees. You can attend conferences, help with campaigns, vote in leadership contests and shape policy from the inside. You don't have to stay forever.
MPs take correspondence from young constituents seriously, especially when it cites real evidence. Use transparenC to pull the relevant stats, then write a focused, factual letter.
You can leaflet, canvass, run social media for campaigns and attend hustings at any age. Campaigns are always short-staffed and your energy is more valuable than you think.
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) gives 11–18 year olds a real democratic voice. MYPs (Member of Youth Parliament) are elected and debate in the House of Commons chamber.
18 – 25You have the vote. Use it — and go further
Turnout among 18–24s was around 37% at the 2024 election, down from 47% in 2019 — the lowest of any age group (Ipsos). Yet young people are most affected by housing costs, climate policy, student debt and job markets. Your vote matters more than you think.
General elections, local council elections, mayoral elections, Police and Crime Commissioner elections, referendums — they all shape your life. Register at gov.uk/register-to-vote and set a reminder for every polling day.
Check how your MP votes on issues that matter to you. Compare their voting record to their campaign promises. Use transparenC's Votes page filtered to your MP.
Use the Economy, Housing and NHS issue pages to pull real figures into conversations, social media posts and emails to your MP. Data cuts through opinion.
There is no minimum age for standing as a local councillor (just 18+). Thousands of seats go uncontested every year. You don't have to win to build a public profile and force issues onto the agenda.
Join or start a local campaign group. Attend a council meeting (they're public). Use FOI requests to dig for information your council is sitting on. Bring people together around a specific, winnable local issue.
26 – 59Maximum reach, maximum impact
This is the age range with the most resources, networks and political leverage. You pay taxes, use public services, employ people and have real influence in your community. Use it.
A single, well-researched constituent letter gets more internal traction than a petition with 10,000 signatures. Use transparenC to back your argument with government's own data, then ask a specific question that requires a written answer.
Parish, town and district councillors make real decisions about planning, housing, local spending and services. The 2026 local elections are an opportunity to get on the ballot. Most seats are winnable with modest effort.
Use the Contracts page to see what public money flows through your area. Submit FOI requests for local contract data. Attend council scrutiny committee meetings — they're public and often under-attended.
Local journalists are stretched thin. A well-sourced story with a data angle — e.g. 'our council's sewage discharge hours rose 40% last year' — gets published. transparenC gives you the numbers; you provide the local context.
Residents associations, tenants groups, workplace unions, professional bodies and community charities all aggregate individual influence into collective power. Build the infrastructure that outlasts any single campaign.
60 and overExperience, networks and the highest turnout of any age group
Voters over 60 consistently have the highest turnout and political engagement of any age group — which means politicians pay attention. But with great power comes great responsibility: the decisions made now shape the world the next generation inherits.
Your turnout rate is already high, but there are still friends, family members and neighbours who don't vote. Peer encouragement from people you trust is far more effective than any political campaign.
Write a letter to an MP. Help someone fill in a planning objection. Explain how a council meeting works. The civic knowledge accumulated over decades is irreplaceable — and too rarely passed on.
Local planning committees, neighbourhood plans and council consultations are disproportionately attended by older residents. Your presence shapes your community — but it's worth inviting younger voices to the table too.
Is the NHS really performing worse than ever? Is immigration at record levels? Is crime up or down? The data often surprises. Use our tools to check claims before sharing them — and to correct misinformation from any direction.
Climate, housing supply, fiscal sustainability and infrastructure are 20–40 year challenges. Support for politicians and policies that make hard long-term decisions — even when unpopular in the short term — is one of the most valuable things experienced voters can provide.
8 ways to drive change
Any age, any level of experience. These are the concrete actions that move the needle.
Takes 5 minutes. Required for every election. gov.uk/register-to-vote
Find them via My Area. Replying to constituents is a strong convention, not a legal duty — so a reply is very likely, not guaranteed.
10,000 signatures requires a UK Government response; 100,000 means it is considered for debate (debates are usual but not automatic).
Central government must publish contract details above £12,000 inc VAT (£30,000 for most other public bodies). So are MP expenses.
Any public body must respond in 20 working days. Use whatdotheyknow.com
All local council meetings are public. Agenda and minutes are published online.
Local councillor, parish council, school governor, Police and Crime Panel.
Misinformation spreads fast. Share this site. Back claims with sources.
The most powerful thing you can do is stay informed.
Politicians rely on short memories and complex information staying buried. Every time you look up the real figures, share a verified stat, or call out a broken promise with evidence, you make the system a little more accountable. That's what this site is for.