Young people from across the county came together with political and democracy experts on Thursday 29 October for Oxfordshire County Council’s latest Pizza and Politics event. 

58 young people took part in the event, held in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. It focused on the theme “Votes at 16” and helped participants build the knowledge and confidence to become active citizens and engage in democracy. 

Young people heard from speakers working in politics, government, education and voter engagement, learnt about their personal journeys and discussed the issues that mattered to them. They also discussed how proposals for Votes at 16 could work in practice, including voter registration and access to information to support informed voting choices. 
 

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Young people deserve opportunities to understand how democracy works, ask questions and make their voices heard. With votes at 16 on the horizon, helping them feel informed, confident and ready to take part is more important than ever. 

“Pizza and Politics gave young people a welcoming space to meet decision makers and democracy experts, share their views and learn how they could influence the decisions that affect their lives. It was fantastic to hear their ideas and see the conversations they sparked.” 
 

Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, said: “Democracy is strongest when all people feel empowered to participate, question and make their voices heard. We were delighted to welcome young people from across Oxfordshire to the School, giving them the opportunity to engage directly with political leaders and experts, share their views and explore the issues that matter to them. 

“This partnership with Oxfordshire County Council is a wonderful example of how we can bring our commitment to better government and public leadership to life in our local community.” 

Speakers included: 

• Calum Miller MP for Bicester and Woodstock 
• Will Yates, Private Secretary to Minister for Early Education Paul Waugh 
• Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Councillor for Bicester East and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People 
• Esmat Jeraj, Head of Voter Engagement at the Electoral Commission 
• Melisha John, Chief Executive of My Life My Say 
• Professor Ben Ansell, University of Oxford 
• Professor Maya Tudor, Blavatnik School of Government 

The council worked with schools and partners to bring together young people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, including children in care and pupils from areas with higher levels of deprivation. 

Pizza and Politics events form part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Future Generations Programme. They are designed to help young people understand local democracy, meet decision makers and take part in discussions about the issues and services that affect them. 

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The pizza and politics session was open to all in Oxfordshire aged 11 to 18. It aimed to help them get an understanding of local democracy and encourage them to get involved in politics.

Attendees were also joined by Cabinet Member Councillor Pete Sudbury, Councillor Charlie Hicks, Champion for Future Generations, and other councillors and members of staff, who shared their experiences.

Austin Isles and Alfie Walker, who are both 15 and go to Marlborough School, Woodstock, joined the session. Both of them had been to a number of events previously.

“In particular I was interested in the green belt and how land could be effectively used for the new Oxford United stadium,” said Alfie.

They both feel it’s important for young people to get more involved in politics at both a local and national level to influence change when they are old enough to vote.

“By having an interest it can help you to have more knowledge when it comes to voting when you turn eighteen,” Austin added.

Alfie agreed: “It allows people to get their voice out from a young age so by the time that they are old enough to take things into their own hands, they'll already be experienced.”

Aiman Shah, who is 17 and attends The Swan School in Oxford, was also at the event, the first one of its kind she has been to.

“I do politics at A Level so I thought this would be a good link and also I think it's just quite good for young people to have a say in what happens in local government,” she commented.

“I think it's cool to meet people who have the same interests as me because I think we all came here for like similar reasons.”

Aiman found the event to be a big confidence booster and was particularly inspired by the councillors who shared their stories and passion for politics with the young people.

She continued: “I think the main takeaway was just seeing these councillors and how passionate they are about their roles.

“This has really boosted my confidence too. So if I keep attending things like this, hopefully I will become a more confident person, and it will a good experience to put on my personal statement because I'm in the sixth form.”

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of the Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment & Future Generations, said: “We want to develop and strengthen youth engagement with local democracy, and hearing the voice of young people in Oxfordshire, which the pizza and politics event was a crucial part of.

“As holder of the climate and environment portfolios, I am painfully aware of the burdens we are passing to these young people, to clear up the problems we have left unsolved. We are leading the way on laying the foundations of their ability to succeed”.

“In this time, more than any before it, it is important that young people have their voices heard, particularly on the matters that affect them most. Even if they aren’t old enough to vote yet, there’s plenty of ways to get involved in politics and make a difference.

“It was an inspiring experience to meet with young people from all over the county. I hope that the event has inspired them to get involved in local democracy, both now and in the future.”

Councillor Charlie Hicks, Oxfordshire County Council’s Champion for Future Generations, said: “Pizza and politics is a part of our new work promoting the wellbeing of future generations – to ensure all the decisions the council makes are in the interests both of people alive today, but also for the whole life-course of people who are children today and those yet to be born.

“This is an approach started by the Welsh government and we are following in their footsteps as the first council in England to put future generations at the heart of our work.

“I'm so pleased that the pizza and politics event was such a success. We heard young people's priorities for what matters most to them, which is an important counterbalance to the voices that we hear most often in the council chamber.

“I'm looking forward to furthering our youth engagement and democracy work so that every young person in the county feels comfortable to come forward and let councillors know what matters to them.”

Future Generations Fortnight will continue as an annual programme of engagement events to encourage, support and inspire young people to make their voices heard and have a greater influence on decision making in Oxfordshire.

Councillors passed a motion back in March 2023 with cross-party support setting out a commitment to considering the wellbeing of Future Generations in all decision-making.

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