YOUNG people in Malvern are set to be given their biggest element of political influence in years after plans to launch a brand new Youth Forum were unveiled to the Observer.
In what is understood to be the first time in possibly decades, Malvern Hills District Council has unveiled plans to launch a platform so youngsters can have their voices heard on political and community issues.
Currently there is no such group which allows young people in the Malvern Hills district to have any influence on local matters.
Councillors were set to approve the launch of a new youth forum at a meeting last night (Tuesday) – one of a number changes made to the authority’s five-year plan – 2016-2021.
It is not yet known how the new youth forum will exactly function and how many youngsters can get involved but council chiefs have told the Observer it is hoped to be in fruition by the end of the year.
Coun David Chambers, responsible for community engagement at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “It’s so important we engage young people in the work of the council and most importantly, listen to what they have to say.
“They are the future of our district and have a valuable contribution to make but often struggle to make their voice heard or assume no-one wants to listen.
“Hopefully the Youth Forum will go some way to giving them that voice and helping them influence what we do as a council and the place where they live.”
The district council’s policy group on Community Engagement has been exploring ways the council can better communicate and engage with residents, particularly young people.
Over the last year council chiefs have held discussions about various ways it could do this including with young people during school visits and on local democracy day events.
The idea of establishing a Youth Forum came out of those discussions.
The council is looking at how other councils across the UK operate various youth forums that exist and will be visiting the Worcestershire Youth Parliament. There is also a youth council in Pershore which is supported by Pershore Town Council.
But Malvern Hills District Council’s chief executive Jack Hegarty is not keen on the current Worcestershire Youth Parliament set up after saying in a recent YouTube video it only allowed a small number of youngsters to take part.
Council Leader Phil Grove has also spoken of his enthusiasm of setting up a new Youth Forum.
