Mid Suffolk youngsters given voice for change

22/05/26

The Mid Suffolk Youth Council is taking shape following the election of its first members.

Students at Debenham High School took part in a mock election to elect three of their peers to the Mid Suffolk Youth Council.

Launched last year by Mid Suffolk District Council, the Youth Council is designed to give young people a chance to have their voice heard and get involved in local politics.

The initiative was driven by research showing the disconnect between young people and politics, with almost three quarters of those asked believing that politics should be taught more in schools or colleges.

Debenham High School was the first to elect members to the Youth Council with Stowupland High School following closely behind with three of their students also having been elected.

Claydon High School, Finborough School, Hartismere School and Thurston Community College are all in varying stages of appointing students.

Each school can elect three students aged between 11 and 19 to serve a two-year term.

Councillor Lucy Elkin, who proposed the creation of the Youth Council, said:

“Congratulations to our first student Youth Councillors, and to all the students who took part in these first elections.

This is a great way for young people to have their voices heard in local government, providing opportunities to raise issues that they care about.

We want being part of this to really mean something, which is why Mid Suffolk District Councillors are exploring ways for the Youth Council and Full Council to work together. I look forward to seeing how this develops."

Councillor Harry Richardson, who seconded the motion to create the Youth Council, said:

“The decisions made by local councils will have a lasting effect on future generations and so getting young people involved in politics, and giving them somewhere to voice their opinion, is incredibly important.”

Cheryl Schmidt, Assistant Head at Debenham High School, said:

“Getting the students involved in this project has been really interesting and incredibly insightful.

The students have really bought into the process and it has been great to see them all taking an interest. We’re all really proud of all everyone that took part but especially to Charlie, Alfie and Connie who were voted in and look forward to seeing them represent Debenham High School.”

From the start of the next school year, the youth councillors will be invited into Mid Suffolk District Council HQ to take part in meetings which will follow the same format as formal council meetings.

At the meetings, the students will have the chance to debate and vote on matters that are important to them.

Debenham High School students who took part in election