Call for nominations - big youth vote

Election time for all - get set for the Big Youth Vote

Nominations are now open for Bristol’s next Big Youth Vote.

The selection process for new candidates kicks off this week with a special meeting for current Youth Select Committee members, with senior council officers. This is a chance for them to give an official report on their term of office and highlight what they think are the key issues for children and young people in Bristol.

Voting will take place in February 2013. Young people, aged 11 to 18, will have the chance to elect representatives to the Bristol Youth Select Committee and the UK Youth Parliament. Elected young people have a two- year term of office, where they act as the official voice for children and young people in the city.

Verriin Kaur, aged 17, joined the youth select committee four years ago and is a student at North Bristol Post 16 centre. She said:

"It is so important that Bristol teenagers use their chance to get on this group so they can express their views on the issues that matter to us. We are very lucky to have this opportunity but I’m sure it would disappear if it’s not used.

"We’ve influenced some important decisions over the years - most recently the contract awards for who is running youth services in the city from now on."

At the last Big Youth Vote in 2011, Bristol recorded the highest turnout of youth voters ever, with 8,494 young people returning ballot papers. There were 65 polling stations across the city, including schools, special schools, a college and youth centres.

Anyone aged 11 to 18 who is interested in standing for election can download an information booklet at:

www.goplacesdothings.org.uk/pages/bristol-youth-select-committee

Youth workers will be visiting schools and venues for young people to run assemblies, workshops and hold information stands, to promote the elections and offer support for young people considering standing.