Derbyshire Youth Council
The Derbyshire Youth Council, formerly known as the Derbyshire Youth Forum, was formed to give a voice to the views of young people in Derbyshire. We devised the Big Vote in 2003 to raise awareness of the elections among young people and get them involved in the voting process.
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 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.
The 16 Youth Council members represent young people from their own district (two 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 10 meetings plus a residential (weekend) course during each of their two years' "term of office".
In the past members have:
worked closely with our elected members and officers
discussed young people's issues with Government ministers
played a key role in promoting young people's issues across the East Midlands
served on the Derbyshire Children's Trust Board
taken part in meetings, conferences, events, road-shows, consultations and visits
allocated Youth Opportunity Fund/Youth Capital Fund money to over 400 youth projects across Derbyshire.
Contacts us for further details.