Being A Youth Councillor

To be a Wayland Youth Councillor you must live in the Wayland are, be within the 15-21 age group at the time when the elections take place, and be prepared to commit one Monday evening per month at least to the Youth Council to attend their meetings. 

The Youth Council aims to have representation on other community organisations on a regular basis and therefore occasional attendance at other meetings is helpful.  These groups are:

Watton Town Council, all the parish councils within the Wayland Area (Ashill, Saham Toney, Ovington, Carbrooke, Caston, Stow Bedon with Breckles, Merton, Little Cressingham, Great Cressingham, Hockham), Watton Crime Prevention Pane, The Wayland Development Partnership Trust (vital if the Youth Council is to have a say in the plans to regenerate the area), Watton Carnival Committee.  The Youth Council has recently decided to invite representatives of these groups to our meetings, but these are the main partners we must keep contact with. 

If elected to be a Youth Councillor, you will be in office for a term of two years.  When you first express an interest you will be asked to supply more details about yourself and why you want to become a Youth Councillor, and it might be a good idea to talk to one of the current Youth Councillors to get and understanding of what it is all about. 

Basically the Youth Council is like a junior version of all the parish councils in the area, all rolled into one.  Many of the organisations in the area come to the Youth Council for advice and suggestions on how youth services and facilities should be delivered, and for information to back up any information coming forward.  You will be asked to put forward the opinions of the young in the area and to do that you might need to talk to or even survey other people below the age of 21.  Having a Youth Council to research this information is a vital factor to attracting funds to the area for regenerative projects, and your input may well have a direct result in making something happen in your area.

The next elections will take place in November - just before that time look out for the publicity in places such as the Wayland News, Thetford & Watton and information generally posted in the area.  If you wish to express an interest in becoming a councillor or would like to speak to someone about it, do please get in touch.