Local Democracy Day inspires young voices in Wychavon

Students from four High schools took part in Wychavon’s Local Democracy Day at the Civic Centre, Pershore.

The event, hosted by Wychavon at the Civic Centre, Pershore, welcomed schoolchildren from year 9 from four high schools in the district. This unique day provided an engaging and educational experience, giving young people the chance to step into the shoes of councillors and officers. Through interactive activities, they tested their skills, knowledge, and decision-making abilities while learning how local government works.

A highlight of the day was a budgeting challenge where students decided how to allocate funding for community improvements – would they increase car parking prices to pay for more park equipment, for example?

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 participant was given a ballot paper and asked to vote for the councillor they felt most represented them. The results were announced by the Chief Executive of Wychavon, Vic Allison, acting as Wychavon’s Returning Officer, just like a real election. Cllr Dan Boatright-Greene won the election, sparking lively discussion and debates among the young people.

A central part of the day saw schools present their own ideas for improving life in their communities to councillors and members of Wychavon’s Senior Management Team. Droitwich High argued that a youth hub in the town would benefit the community by providing a safe space for young people to socialise and access support. Pershore High raised concerns about road safety on Station Road, Pershore and suggested practical measures to improve safety for young people and residents. Prince Henry’s High focused on easing congestion by improving traffic flow around its school in Evesham. Evesham Vale addressed the growing issue of underage vaping and called for stronger prevention measures and awareness campaigns.

A judging panel assessed the presentations on ideas, delivery, and impact before crowning a winner. Prince Henry’s High School was named the winner for its accurate presentation on traffic congestion. The pupils had created a compassionate presentation, carefully considering the residents and visitors to the area, the impact of traffic on them and on young people, and the students' own perspectives.

Cllr Dan Boatright-Greene, councillor for Pershore, who won the young people’s votes, said: “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. 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.”

One student reflected: “The Local Democracy Day event not only showcased the importance of local democracy but also empowered young minds to imagine a future where they can actively participate in decision-making processes that shape their communities.”

Susannah Gallagher, teacher at Prince Henry’s High, who supported the students on the day, said: “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.”

Previous impact, taken from Wychavon’s You Said, We Did page:

• ·    High school students who attended our Local Democracy Day in November 2024 said they wanted us to make it easier to report damaged bins
  
  We created and published a form on our website where people can report damage or other issues with litter and dog poo bins.
  
  
• ·     High school Students who attended our Local Democracy Day in November 2023 told us they were concerned about underage vape sales and the impact of vaping on young people
  
  We worked with a group of young people to develop an anti-vaping campaign which we targeted at middle and high schools and youth settings across the district. This included a hard-hitting poster campaign in schools, bus and supermarket adverts and a radio and social media campaign.