"Young people in Warwick district have led the way on making sure that the voice of youth is heard in the county and nationally."
Matt Smith
Young people from Kenilworth, Leamington and Warwick are voting this week for their representatives for the forthcoming year.
Elections are taking place using text voting to chose the three Warwick district members for the Warwickshire County Youth Panel.
The panel is made up by representatives from each borough and district in the county.
In the past year the County Youth Panel has been involved in the selection panel for the new Chief Executive of the council, and also the appointment of the Assistant County Education Officer with responsibility for Special Educational Needs.
They have led a study to find out more about young people’s needs in transport, and have worked with Warwickshire police to ensure that literature about Anti-Social Behaviour Orders is in clear language.
The work of the panel has grown so much that three representatives from Warwick district will be elected to serve for the next year, instead of the two who held the post this year. The elections will be concluding at the Connexions building in Holly Walk, Leamington, where family and friends will find out the results this Saturday.
Those who sit on the County Youth Panel can go forward to stand as a Member of Youth Parliament. Last week, one of Warwickshire’s MYPs, Shola Shobowale of Nuneaton, was part of a delegation that delivered a national petition to Ten Downing Street, calling on the Government to introduce identity cards so 15-year-olds could be assured of getting concession rate travel on public transport.
Young people from across the area can also vote by texting: yss and the candidate’s first name to 60003. (eg yss rob)
The candidates are:
Adrian Dunsford 17 from Kenilworth (text: yss adrian)
Mark Smith 15 from Warwick (text: yss mark)
Aidan Steele 15 from Warwick (text: yss aidan)
Maggie Malloy 17 from Leamington (text: yss maggie)
Bryony Howell 14 from Leamington (text: yss: bry)
Hope Feasey 15 from Leamington (text: yss hope)
Matt Smith, of Warwickshire County Council’s Youth And Community Education team said: “Young people in Warwick district have led the way on making sure that the voice of youth is heard in the county and nationally. They are being taken seriously and as the presentation of the petition in Downing Street shows. The interest in the panel has steadily grown and this is reflected in an increased workload and more young people showing a willingness to get involved.”