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Case studies "Carmarthenshire County Council: Carmarthenshire Youth Democracy Project 1"
Carmarthenshire County Council
This local council initiative was aimed at young people in the run up to the 2004 local elections. Adverts promoting the elections were placed in local publications and in the council's community news. The council also wrote to each secondary school and to the main further education college in the area offering sessions and workshops that focused on:
- what the county council does
- all about local representatives
- why is it important to vote
- how to get on the electoral register
The message was put across by numerous presentations, videos, and practical activities in which young people would assume responsibility for a certain portfolio and argue the case for an increase in budget for certain projects.
A pack was also produced comprising t-shirts, bookmarks, coasters, banners and door hangers as well as general information on the work of the local council. This was distributed to each young person involved in workshops.
Birthday cards from the Chief Executive of the Council were also distributed to young people in the county on turning 18.
Organisers of the scheme found that there was a significant lack of knowledge among young people on issues such as the functions of the county council, the size of its budget and who represented them. Despite this young people were eager to debate both local and national issues and were deeply concerned with matters that had an impact on their day-to-day lives. The local council aimed to establish a link in the minds of activity participants between such issues and casting a vote.
Carmarthenshire County Council also had a presence at a number of high profile conferences and events across the county in an attempt to spread this message outside the classroom. One such event was the Carmarthenshire Young Farmers Convention, which saw thousands of young people from across the county descending on the Three Counties Showground in Carmarthen.
Under normal circumstances the County Council would look to take a small stand along with a relatively low profile but on this occasion a big emphasis was placed on promoting the elections. Council officials were out among the young people talking about the importance of the upcoming elections and distributing free information and giveaways.
Overall budget: £7,000
Number of people working on the project: up to 10
For more information on running a similar event contact Peter Jones, Deputy Acting Returning Officer and Statutory Services Manager, at Carmarthenshire County Council, email: pjjones@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Carmarthenshire County Council
This local council initiative was aimed at young people in the run up to the 2004 local elections. Adverts promoting the elections were placed in local publications and in the council's community news. The council also wrote to each secondary school and to the main further education college in the area offering sessions and workshops that focused on:
- what the county council does
- all about local representatives
- why is it important to vote
- how to get on the electoral register
The message was put across by numerous presentations, videos, and practical activities in which young people would assume responsibility for a certain portfolio and argue the case for an increase in budget for certain projects.
A pack was also produced comprising t-shirts, bookmarks, coasters, banners and door hangers as well as general information on the work of the local council. This was distributed to each young person involved in workshops.
Birthday cards from the Chief Executive of the Council were also distributed to young people in the county on turning 18.
Organisers of the scheme found that there was a significant lack of knowledge among young people on issues such as the functions of the county council, the size of its budget and who represented them. Despite this young people were eager to debate both local and national issues and were deeply concerned with matters that had an impact on their day-to-day lives. The local council aimed to establish a link in the minds of activity participants between such issues and casting a vote.
Carmarthenshire County Council also had a presence at a number of high profile conferences and events across the county in an attempt to spread this message outside the classroom. One such event was the Carmarthenshire Young Farmers Convention, which saw thousands of young people from across the county descending on the Three Counties Showground in Carmarthen.
Under normal circumstances the County Council would look to take a small stand along with a relatively low profile but on this occasion a big emphasis was placed on promoting the elections. Council officials were out among the young people talking about the importance of the upcoming elections and distributing free information and giveaways.
Overall budget: £7,000
Number of people working on the project: up to 10
For more information on running a similar event contact Peter Jones, Deputy Acting Returning Officer and Statutory Services Manager, at Carmarthenshire County Council, email: pjjones@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
