Do you have an opinion on the problems in your town, and how you could put them right? These are some of the questions Northumberland County Council is throwing out to young people in the County.
Budding politicians in Northumberland are to get an opportunity to cut their teeth in Big Brother style, as nominations for the County’s first ever Young Leader opens up today.
In the run up to Local Democracy Week 2006, which begins on 16 October, Northumberland County Council is encouraging young people between the ages of 14 to 19 to get online and nominate themselves as the County Council’s first ever Young Leader.
Children and young people can vote for candidates online and by text message from 2 October. The Young Leader will get involved in a range of activities around local democracy. They will get a chance to see it all in action with time spent shadowing the leadership in County Hall. The Young Leader and two runners up will also be taking a special trip to the hotbed of British politics, Westminster.
Young people between the ages of 14 to 19 are invited to go online to www.engagingpeople.org/
Coun Jim Wright, Executive Member for Children’s Services, said: “Local Democracy Week is an important event for Northumberland County Council, and offers young people in the county a chance to learn about local democracy by participating actively in it. We’re putting on a variety of events to engage young people and children of all ages. I encourage young people to get involved – either by nominating themselves as our first ever Young Leader, or by voting. This is their chance to make their voice heard.”
Northumberland County Council is arranging a variety of events during Local Democracy Week, working with the youngest school-children to those in the late teens. They’ll be getting a flavour of local democracy in practice through exciting events like mock ballots, online surgeries, and debates.
For more information about Local Democracy Week, log on to www.engagingpeople.org/
