Young people to have their say on politics and democracy
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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