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Berkhamsted Youth Town Council
Civic Centre  161 High Street  Berkhamsted Hertfordshire HP4 3HB
Tel. (01442) 228945
Email: bytc@dacorum.gov.uk
Subject 'Youth Council'

LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEK

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Local Election Commentary

LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEK
report from The Herald Express, Thursday October 21 2004

picture of press pages

 

DEMOCRACY? WHAT DEMOCRACY?: The school pupils debate the voting issue at the Civic Centre on Monday.

The meeting was chaired by Mischke Weinreb, above. SCHOOLCHILDREN from across Dacorum have voted overwhelmingly to campaign for a change in the voting age to 16.

Budding politicians as young as 11 years old blasted the government for being 'ageist' when it came to democracy and demanded future consultation with youth groups.

Berkhamsted Youth Town Council chairman Mischke Weinreb, aged 16, who chaired the discussion, said: "To me not letting 16-year-olds vote smacks of age discrimination. "We pay taxes, can join the army and start a family but we can't vote.
"We are taught citizenship from the age of five so we should be prepared to take part in democracy by the time we leave school.
"Why shouldn't we have more of a say?"

Pupils from Kings Langley, John F Kennedy, Astley Cooper and Ashlyns Schools took part in the debate held in the Council Chamber at Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre on Monday.

It marked the beginning of Local Democracy Week which is designed to engage young people in the democratic process.

Of the 30 children who took part in the discussion, 24 agreed the voting age should be lowered. Tring School A-level student Mischke, who is also media spokesperson for the British Youth Council, said: "The whole day was really successful in getting our voice heard.

"Now we are aiming to launch a youth newspaper to show that we mean business and should be taken seriously."


The event - which included workshops on keeping healthy, staying safe, and making a contribution - lasted all day, and was attended by Hemel Hempstead MP Tony
McWalter.
 

 

A VIDEO following a year in the life of Berkhamsted Youth Town Council has been commissioned by Dacorum Borough Council.

 Youth council chairman Mischke Weinreb pictured here [top right in the paper above] during filming outside the Civic Centre on Monday - will feature in the promo aimed at getting young people involved in politics.

    The 16-year-old Tring School student, who is also media spokesperson for the British Youth Council, said: "It is all in aid of local democracy and about trying to get young people's point of view heard."