Local Democracy Week 2004 in South Norfolk

Next week is Local Democracy Week and South Norfolk Council has organised a series of events involving young people from the district.

One of the highlights is a gig to officially launch South Norfolk Youth Action (SNYA) - the group set up to give young people the opportunity to get involved in the process of making policy at South Norfolk Council.

Running from 18 to 24 October, the aim of Local Democracy Week is to help young people to get more involved with local decision-making and planning, across the UK. This year’s theme is Making Your Mark.

Fran Ronan, Active Citizenship Co-ordinator at South Norfolk Council and Norfolk Youth and Community Service who has organised the events, says the idea is to bring young people closer to the council:

“Young people have asked for a clear understanding of the council’s functions, so that they know how to contact us and how we can help them to Make their Mark. ”

LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEK 2004 EVENTS

Making Your Mark, Monday 18 October

75 students from Diss High School, Wymondham High School, Framingham Earl High School, Hethersett High School and Long Stratton High School will be spending the day at South Norfolk House.

Their aim is to produce an A-Z Guide of Council Services for Young People. They will interview officers, visit stands specially produced for the day and collect written information. After doing their research they will get the chance to design and create pages for the Guide. And when it has been finalised and printed, the Guide will be sent to schools across the district.

Take your Councillor to School Day, Tuesday 19 October

Nine of our councillors * (see list below) will be returning to school for a day – literally. The idea is that they will meet young people on their own ‘patch’ and find out about the issues that matter to them. They will be going to classes including PE, double maths and physics and, along with the teachers and the students, will be asked to evaluate their experiences.

SNYA Launch, Wednesday 20 October

Three bands: Lost?, PointBlank and Zabacaz, will be appearing at Diss Youth Centre, Shelfanger Road, Diss from 8pm to help celebrate the launch of South Norfolk Youth Action.

Fran Ronan says:

“It’s a great opportunity to hear the bands, meet new people and find out about SNYA – the voice of young people aged between 11 and 25, in South Norfolk.

“SNYA was given the go ahead by the council, in the summer. The group has met, found a name, formed a committee, created a logo and a purpose and will be launching itself to a wider audience, with this gig. Those young people who have got involved, are already actively starting to Make their Mark.

“The hope is that others will join them, inspired by what they see at the council while they prepare their A-Z Guide, or by simply talking to councillors when they come to their schools for the day.

“Local Democracy Week is a great opportunity for local government to open its doors to young people and to send them a message that the future of local democracy is in their hands.”

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