Bucks Youth Summit 2025 – The Politics Space
About The Politics Space 2025
In the Politics Space, 81 young people came together with local Councillors, the Chair of the Slough Youth Parliament, his adult facilitator, and members of the Youth Voice Executive Committee.
The session focused on encouraging the young people and Councillors to build rapport, followed by a question time where the young people asked Councillors questions on different current topics and issues in Buckinghamshire.
Activities in The Politics Space
Part one of the session
- This was spent building rapport between the young people and the Councillors
- Included having conversations with young people, encouraging them to write down questions for the Councillors based off general themes such as the role of a Councillor, the environment, areas to improve in Buckinghamshire
- The Youth Voice Executive Committee members and the Chair of the Slough Youth Parliament chaired this discussion
Part two of the session
- Chairs were set out for the young people in a panel style question and answer setting
- The young people asked the Councillors questions on local topics or issues and listened to their answers
- The Youth Voice Executive Committee members and the Chair of the Slough Youth Parliament chaired this discussion
What did the young people say in the Politics Space?
- We need more mechanisms for young people to inform and influence decisions.
- We need a local space for young people to come together, share their voices and to spread awareness of youth opportunities.
- We want improved community spaces, particularly parks which often have broken equipment.
- We want better work experience opportunities and access to work.
- We need to reduce litter and create a cleaner environment.
- We need more awareness and harder restrictions on youth vaping.
- We want to be able to have an impact on international issues such as the war in Ukraine and American politics.
So what?
- After the May elections, the discussion outputs and insights from this space will be shared with the elected Buckinghamshire Councillors
- Councillors will be invited to a Youth Voice Executive Committee meeting where the young people can ask the Councillors questions from the outputs and insights gathered from the Summit
- Youth Voice Bucks Team are focusing on planning and creating opportunities for young people to come together, share their voices and to spread awareness of youth opportunities, such as during Democracy Week in October 2025. More information to follow.
- The Councillor Shadowing Scheme will be relaunching in Spring/Summer 2025. The Scheme provides young people and local councillors with skills, experience, and insight, by giving young people and councillors an opportunity to get to know each other.
