The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published its Communities in Control white paper last week, and made a series of commitments to help young people get more involved in democracy and decision-making. The white paper aims to create a shift in power and responsibility, with the DCLG saying it was crucial that young people were a focus.
Plans include a shadowing scheme to give young people access to Whitehall departments and the government ministers that work there. The programme will start next summer for young people under 21.
There will also be local information campaigns to let young people know more about how, why and where they should vote, as part of a new duty on councils to promote democracy. The campaigns will be built on existing examples of best practice.
Andy Hamflett, chief executive of the UK Youth Parliament, said the proposals were a good sign but warned there must be money to back them up. "Investing in the structures is vital," he said. "Also, talking to people on the ground, as well as pushing it through to heads of services is important. When we talk to young people and youth workers they're often brimming with ideas on how to take these things forward but don't always have the resources. If this falls to local government, councils shouldn't come up with new things when there are already ideas that just need resources."
He said co-operation between government departments is needed if the plans are to be a success. "DCLG is taking about putting communities in control and the Department for Children, Schools and Families is looking at a leadership agenda," he said. "There's a need to work with other departments with the hope of bringing together a coherent strategy."
Hazel Blears, the communities and local government secretary, said politics needed to be brought alive and cynicism tackled.
- www.cypnow.co.uk/doc.
