Involvement and
Public Engagement
Team
Commissioning Support, STC
The Young Essex
Assembly’s
Local Democracy Week 2013
Children and young peoples’ conferences
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Aims of the Conference:
Local Democracy Week is an annual initiative from the European Union that aims to engage
young people in local politics. The Young Essex Assembly is the elected youth council for
Essex. 75 young people aged 11-19 are elected every 2 years to represent all young people in
the county. The YEA wholeheartedly supports Local Democracy Week and recognises the
importance of engaging children and young people in the democratic process and so organises
annual Local Democracy Week events.
This year on 14th and 18th October 2013, The Young Essex Assembly organised two Local
Democracy Week conferences for children and young people, one for secondary school pupils
and the other for children from primary schools across the county.
ECC Cllr Andy Wood: “It is very important that we do engage with young people.”
The aims of the conferences were:
 To raise awareness and increase the understanding of local democracy amongst local
children and young people.
 To maintain and build on positive relationships developed between Essex County
Council, The Young Essex Assembly and Essex schools.
 To continue to raise the profile of the Young Essex Assembly in schools and the wider
community.
 To inspire school councils to make a positive difference to the whole of their school.
 To promote a practical understanding of issues in the wider world.
Both events were held in the Council Chambers at County Hall in Chelmsford. The Secondary
Schools conference was attended by 69 pupils; aged between 11 and 18, representing nine
schools whilst 112 pupils aged between 5 and 11 representing eighteen schools attended the
primary conference.
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Agenda:
 A brief overview of democracy and The Young Essex Assembly.
 A formal welcome by the Chairman/ Vice Chairman of Essex County Council.
 ”Dragon’s Den” activity, presentations and voting.
 Networking lunch with Members and representatives from the Essex Safeguarding
Children Board and Victim Support.
 Question Time with a panel of 10 County Councillors.
Outputs:
A winning Dragons Den project was chosen on each day (actually the Dragons couldn’t decide at the
primary conference as 2 of the ideas were so similar so there were actually 2 winners!):
Thurstable School (Secondary)
This schools idea was to create a Snack cart to sell hot and cold food around the school at breaktimes
and lunchtimes. This would lessen queues in the canteen and create revenue for the school council to
spend on other projects.
St Francis Roman Catholic Primary School and Roydon Primary School
Both schools wanted to grow vegetables, involving parents, staff and pupils to do so. The vegetables
would be used in the school kitchen and any excess would be sold to the wider community.
Staff from all 3 schools said that they would be encouraging their pupils to roll out these fantastic
projects.
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We will be approaching the winning schools after Christmas to find out how they are getting on with their
projects and include an update in a future issue of our e-newsletter Edit.
Jotmans Primary: “Thank you for the opportunity to visit County Hall and for giving pupils this
unique experience.”
Outcomes:
The children and young people who attended the day, left with a better understanding of
Democracy and the work of Essex County Council and The Young Essex Assembly. This was
achieved by actively engaging in the democratic process.
Milldene Primary School: “A lovely day! The children were awestruck at the County Hall and how
important it is. They learnt a great deal about democracy from the day and are planning an
assembly to present to the rest of the school about it.”
All pupils who attended have been accredited for attending the day and the learning that
occurred.
Next Steps:
Members of the Involvement and Public Engagement will continue to work with Essex schools to
promote local democracy and the engagement of young people in the democratic process.
The Young Essex Assembly will continue to represent the voice of all children and young people
in Essex with Essex County Council and its partners. They will also begin to plan next year’s
Local Democracy Week events. We very much hope that some of the attendees of the 2 days
will consider joining The Young Essex Assembly.
Many thanks to everyone who attended the two events; schools, ECC Members and Officers
who supported the day.
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This document is issued by
Essex County Council (Involvement Team)
You can contact us in the following ways:
By post
Involvement Team
Schools, Children and Families Directorate
Essex County Council
39-42 East Stockwell Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1SS
By telephone
01206 762923
By email
involvement@essex.gov.uk
Visit us online
www.essex.gov.uk
The information contained in this document can be translated and/or
made available in alternative formats, on request.
Published December 2012
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