Derbyshire Youth Council – BIG VOTE elections 2008

The Derbyshire Youth Council, formerly known as the Derbyshire Youth Forum, was formed eight years ago to give a voice to the views of young people in Derbyshire. Derbyshire County Council devised the Big Vote in 2003 to raise awareness of the elections among young people and get them involved in the voting process.

Voting to elect a new Youth Council took place between February 29 and 1 April 1 2008 and Derbyshire young people aged 11-19 were able to vote by post, internet and text message. Ballot forms were distributed to schools and all youth provision containing freepost voting slips. Internet votes were cast through the b_line website.

The Derbyshire Youth Council is organised and run by the Youth Service on behalf of Derbyshire County Council. Local councillors and MPs listen to the Youth Council’s views and take them into account when they're forming new policies and plans for young people's services.

The Youth Council is made up of 16 young people aged from 11 to 19.

The Big Vote was launched in 2003 to increase the number of candidates standing for election and the number of votes by opening up voting to around 54,000 young people in Derbyshire. In 2008 there were 73 candidates and 20,818 votes cast.

The 16 Youth Council members represent young people from their own district (2 members per district). They are: High Peak; Derbyshire Dales; Bolsover; North East Derbyshire; Chesterfield; Amber Valley; Erewash; South Derbyshire.

Once elected, members of the Youth Council attend a minimum ten meetings plus a residential (weekend) course during each of their two years’ "term of office".

In the past 12 months member have:

• Worked closely with elected members and officers of Derbyshire County Council

• Discussed young people’s issues with government ministers.

• Played a key role in promoting young people’s issues across the East Midlands.

• Members have served on the Derbyshire Children’s Trust Board.

• Members have taken part in over sixty meetings, conferences, events, road-shows, consultations or visits.

• Over the past three years the Youth council has allocated over £2m of Youth Opportunity Fund/Youth Capital Fund to over 400 youth projects across Derbyshire.

Future meetings of the Derbyshire Youth Council:

• Tuesday 21 July 2009

• Tuesday 22 September 2009

• Tuesday 20 October 2009

• Tuesday 24 November 2009

• Tuesday 15 December 2009

All meetings will be held in Committee Room 1, 7pm at County Hall

Forthcoming dates: 

• 12-18 October: Local Democracy Week. The theme is ‘Take part, take power’.

• 30 October: Derbyshire representatives on the UK Youth Parliament will be debating young people’s issue in the Chamber of the House of Commons.

• 1-7 November: Youth Work Week. The theme is ‘Resilient and Resourceful’.

• 6 November: 11 Million Takeover Day