YOUNG people from four Worcestershire high schools stepped into the shoes of councillors and officers recently in order to understand how local government works.
Year 9 students from Prince Henry’s, Pershore High, Vale of Evesham and Droitwich High took part in a local democracy day on December 3 hosted at the Civic Centre in Pershore by Wychavon District Council.
The day provided an engaging and educational experience, where through interactive activities, they got to test their skills, knowledge, and decision-making abilities.
A highlight was a hypothetical budgeting challenge where students had to decide whether funding for community improvements would come from an increase in car parking prices to pay for more park equipment.
They also had the opportunity to vote for Wychavon’s president for the day, in a genuine polling booth set up and facilitated by the Wychavon elections team.
Each student was given a ballot paper and asked to vote for the councillor they felt most represented their views, with the results announced by the Wychavon chief executive Vic Allison, who is also Wychavon’s returning officer.
Councillor Dan Boatright-Greene won the election, sparking lively discussion and debates among the young people.
“It was brilliant to spend time with the young people and hear their ideas. I wanted them to see that councillors aren’t distant or unapproachable, we’re here to listen and work with them,” he said.
“Their enthusiasm was infectious, and I’m delighted they felt able to vote for me. It shows how important it is to make local democracy open, friendly, and something everyone can be part of.”
A key part of the day saw schools present their own ideas for improving life in their communities to a panel of councillors and members of Wychavon’s senior management team.
Droitwich High students argued that a youth hub would benefit the community by providing a safe space for young people to socialise and access support, whilst Pershore High raised concerns about road safety on Station Road, a key route to school.
Practical measures to improve safety for young people and residents were suggested by the children.
Prince Henry’s team focused on improving traffic flow around the school located in a residential area, whilst Vale of Evesham, addressed underage vaping and called for stronger prevention measures and awareness campaigns.
The panel judged Prince Henry’s High School the winner for its carefully considered presentation on traffic congestion which highlighted the impact of traffic on various stakeholder groups.
Susannah Gallagher, teacher at Prince Henry’s High, who supported the students on the day, added: “It was fantastic to see our students rise to the challenge and present their ideas with such confidence.
“They put real thought into the issues facing their community and showed maturity in how they tackled them. Winning was a proud moment, but the real achievement was watching them realise that their voices matter and can make a difference.”
