When it comes to getting involved in local democracy, Wigan’s young people really are vote winners.
In fact during the borough’s recent Local Democracy Week the borough’s children were the most actively involved in the whole country.
Wigan’s young people asked more questions, voted more often and got more closely involved with their local politicians.
Local Democracy Week took place from Monday October 13 until Friday October 17. Its aim is to get more people, particularly young people, to take part in the local decision-making process and find out more about how our borough is run.
The week-long series of events included a Meet Your Councillor event, which saw elected members come face-to-face with the public to explain their role and dispel some of the popular misconceptions about councillors.
There were a number of Question Time style events for aimed at both young people and adults. Fronted by BBC newsman Dave Guest the young people’s Question Time toured high schools across the borough while the adult event was hosted at Wigan Town Hall.
The popular event saw members from most political groups on the council represented. The topics covered included everything from transport to education.
It was a dream come true for 14 year-old Jilly McKiernan from Ashton when she was chosen to become the borough’s Mayor for a Day.
Jilly, who was nominated by her friends, accompanied Mayor of Wigan Cllr Rona Winkworth for a full day of civic duties.
“It was a great experience,” says Jilly. “It’s important for young people to get involved with local issues. Lots of things are being done but there are lots of kids who don’t know about them.”
Well, that may have all changed now considering the next of the week’s events.
I’m a Councillor Get Me Out of Here ran for the entire week and saw more than 1,000 pupils take part.
The event put councillors from different parties on the council on the spot by answering question and putting forward their opinions to young people through the internet.
Throughout the week a different councillor was voted off by the young people, leaving Bryn councillor Gary Wilkes as the overall winner.
Cllr Wilkes says of the event:
“I was highly honoured to be crowned King of the Jungle. I was also impressed with the quality of questions being asked by the pupils.
It’s refreshing to know that we have so many of the younger generation who are so in touch with the world around us.”
I’m a Councillor Get Me Out of Here is a national event and the Wigan project received high-praise from the national organisers.
The post-event analysis states:
“Wigan’s young people were busier asking questions and voting than any others in the country, and almost twice as busy as the average across the UK.”
The report adds:
“This quality of involvement is what leads to long-lasting effects…The councillors all did a great job of communicating with young people, they were honest, warm, supportive and most importantly, they listened.”
The final event o the week was a meeting between young people and the council’s ruling Cabinet.
Around 25 young people met with the borough’s decision-makers and put forward a number of views. Feedback from this event showed that the young people were pleased they were able to give their views and believed that they were being listened to.
Wigan Council’s Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People Cllr Susan Loudon, who took part in many of the week’s events, says she was delighted with the results.”
Cllr Loudon adds:
“To see and hear children and young people getting so involved in their local community and speaking with intelligence and passion about the issues they feel strongly about was very inspiring,” says Cllr Loudon. “In today’s society young people tend to come under a lot of criticism and the vast majority of it is unwarranted.”
“I think events such as this help dispel the negative stereotypes and help strengthen links. Everyone who took part in this year’s Local Democracy Week did the borough proud and we already planning for next year.”
“Of course our eventual aim is to make every week Local Democracy Week.”
