Youth Council

Youth Council

The Spelthorne Youth Council developed in 2003 from the existing Student Council as a representative body of the young residents of Spelthorne. Its members include schools and Youth Centre members, as well as young parents and carers.

The Youth Council consists of 25 members which meet on a monthly basis for two hours. It is reflective of the adult Council and so meets in the Council Chambers and has it's own Constitution.

How are members selected?

The members are selected in October following the Your Shout event. The Your Shout event is an annual event during which a range of young people tell us what they think of the Borough and what we can do to improve it The Youth Council help us to organise this event and provide presentations on the work they do. New members are also selected to sit on the Youth Council for the next year.

Following this, the Youth Council meet with the rest of the Youth Councils in Surrey for a day of training in which they learn what is expected of them in the coming year and gain an understanding of how to achieve the goals they will set.

What do the Youth Council do?
Throughout the year, the Youth Council help to set up and publicise events such as the Youth Cafe and Hot Chocolate. They also run the annual Youth Awards, a night which has proved to be successful and celebrates the achievements of the young people in the Borough. In addition they provide invaluable insight into current issues which face young people such as transport and safety, and invite individuals working in these areas to come to meetings so that current topics can be debated and talked through and, we hope, resolved. They also provide the Council with ideas on where to place youth shelters and give us an insight into the facilities they would like in the Borough.

What have they done in 2007/08?

The youth councillors will be busy again for the coming year, helping with a youth web design project, producing an anti smoking DVD, attempting to improve transport around Spelthorne for young people, arranging an exciting activity for the winter of 2008. Also making Spelthorne a more attractive place for young people.

If you are interested in attending the Your Shout event, or in joining the Youth Council, contact Andy Holdaway on 01784 446214 or e-mail leisure@spelthorne.gov.uk