Monmouthshire County Council’s Youth Service are asking young people between the ages of 11 and 25 to get involved in its annual ‘Make Your Mark’ consultation, which runs until Monday 30th November. Not only is Monmouthshire’s biggest youth consultation, it is also the biggest in the UK. Last year over 3,000 people were involved and it is hoped that even more will take part this year even though, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual face-to-face meetings have been replaced with an online service.
The results of the ‘Make Your Mark’ ballot will form the work of the youth council and will be used to influence decisions made within the council over the next year.
Councillor Richard John, Cabinet Member for Young People, said: “I would encourage all parents, guardians and teachers to help support young people in having their vote. It’s an important opportunity to express what’s important to young people and what they want to see changed.”
‘Make Your Mark’ and the ‘Make Your Mark Monmouthshire’ are two consultations that are run consecutively every year. Make your Mark is the UK’s biggest youth ballot, run by the UK Youth parliament and delivered in schools by Monmouthshire County Council’s Youth Service.
Monmouthshire Make Your Mark focuses on local priorities. The consultation offers young people the chance to have a voice and make a difference in matters that affect them. Engage 2 Change Youth Council represents the views of their peers. E2C advocates young people’s opinions locally, regionally and nationally. The consultation runs until 30th November to vote and to find out more visit: https://linktr.ee/MonYouthService
In January 2021, Monmouthshire Make Your Mark will be hosting an online event to better understand why young people chose particular responses, to take part in an open discussion with key decision makers on how the top three priorities can be handled, why they are important to young people across the county and, most importantly, how change can be made.
To find out more about Monmouthshire Youth Services and Make Your Mark visit www.monlife.co.uk/connect/youth-service/make-your-mark/