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Youth summit unites parish and town councils to empower future leaders
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) hosted a Youth Engagement Summit, which succeeded in its mission to engage and inspire young people to take an active role in local governance and community leadership.
Around 100 delegates attended the summit, jointly hosted by NALC, One Voice Wales (OVW), and the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) on 18 July 2024. The all-day event featured presentations and panel discussions from various organisations dedicated to youth engagement.
The summit included vital figures such as NALC chair Cllr Keith Stevens and the chief executives of OVW and SLCC, Lyn Cadwallader and Rob Smith. Their speeches set the tone for a day filled with insightful discussions, with Cllr Keith Stevens commenting, “It’s important for us to encourage more young people into local government”.
Representatives from Edenbridge Town Council in Kent and Sway Parish Council in Hampshire shared their successful apprenticeship programmes, highlighting the benefits of involving young people in local government.
The Youth Parliament of Wales delivered an inspiring session on how young people can influence the work of the Welsh Parliament (Senedd). It was followed by a panel session focusing on strategies to encourage more young people to stand for election, emphasising the importance of youth representation in decision-making bodies.
My Life My Say spoke about their campaign Give an X campaign, which urges the younger generation to vote and participate in democratic processes. The Youth Endowment Fund also provided valuable insights into effective youth provision strategies to prevent children from becoming involved in violence.