The view that children and young people are important because they willshape tomorrow's future is clear but the belief that they are today'scitizens who deserve a fulfilled childhood is equally true.
Research shows that there is often a sense of exclusion among youngpeople when they are not consulted on matters that affect them.Expectations from young people on the commitment to change throughconsultation with them can often be low. When they are included indecisions that affect them, however, a real sense of ownership for acommunity in which their ideas are valued and suggestions implemented iscreated.
Southwark in London encouraged political and economic literacy amongyoung people, aged 11 to 19, by giving them the radical task of settinga budget for the borough. Their proposals were presented to localcouncillors at the town hall. Spending priorities included education,crime prevention, housing and street cleaning. The council found theproposals very beneficial when developing the final budget, as they wereaware of what the issues were from a grassroots perspective.
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