STUDENTS aged nine to 16 in Droitwich participated in a taster session on local democracy at Wychavon District Council this week.
The event, hosted by Wychavon, was attended by schoolchildren from Droitwich first, middle, and high schools who form the Droitwich Youth Council.
This unique event provided an engaging and educational experience and gave young people a taster session in local democracy.
It immersed them in activities that tested their skills, knowledge, and decision-making abilities as if they were councillors or officers.
One highlight of the day involved the challenging task of deciding how to allocate £80,000 for improvements in their community.
Students were given the opportunity to vote in a genuine polling booth set up and facilitated by the Wychavon Elections team.
Each child was given a ballot paper and asked to vote for up to three issues they would like to see improved in their local area.
The top priorities, voted for by the pupils, included affordable housing, green spaces and wildlife, and crime and safety.
Wychavon’s Deputy Returning Officer Jayne Pickering announced the ballot results, sparking excitement and discussion amongst the participants.
Councillor Rob Adams, Wychavon Portfolio holder for Strong Communities, Culture and Sport, who chaired the event, said, “The engagement and enthusiasm from our young people was truly inspiring.
“It was my best day ever at Wychavon. Seeing the next generation take an interest in local government and community issues reaffirmed my belief in the importance of involving youth in discussions.”
Following the voting session, students posed insightful questions to local councillors, ranging from personal motivations for becoming a councillor to queries about the role itself.
Questions included, “Why did you become a councillor, and at what age?”, “What is the best thing you’ve been involved in?” and “How much is the Chairman’s chain worth?”
These interactions gave the students a valuable opportunity to gain experience directly from those in leadership positions.
Eddie, aged nine, from Hindlip First High School, said, “I really enjoyed the budgeting task because it showed me how hard it is to decide where money should go. It made me think about what is most important for people.”
