Youth Council

Join Gedling Youth Council

Are you a young person living in Gedling and / or attending a School or Youth Club in the Borough? Do you want your voice to be heard and contribute to positive changes in your community? Look no further – the Gedling Youth Council is calling all enthusiastic young people to step up and join their ranks!

The Gedling Youth Council is a fantastic opportunity for young individuals aged 11 to 19 to get involved in local decision-making and have a real impact on the issues that matter most to them. As a member, you'll have the chance to voice your opinions, share your ideas, and work together with other passionate young minds to shape a better future for our borough.

So, what's in it for you?

Joining the Youth Council means more than just being heard; it's a chance to gain valuable leadership skills, develop teamwork abilities, and enhance your understanding of how local government operates. You'll get to interact with other Gedling Borough Council members, learn about community projects, and make lasting connections with like-minded peers.

But that's not all – being a part of the Youth Council can also bolster your resume and further education applications. It shows that you're proactive, committed, and dedicated to making a positive change. Plus, it's a great way to boost your confidence and develop public speaking skills through discussions, workshops, and community events.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to shape the future of Gedling Borough while gaining valuable skills and experiences. Join the Gedling Youth Council today and be a driving force for positive change in your community!

The Gedling Youth Council serves for a three year term, meets every quarter on a Monday, 5.30 - 7.30pm at the Civic Centre.

Recruiting NOW

We are currently recruiting a new incoming Youth Council for the period April 2024 - March 2028. To find out more and register your interest in joining the Gedling Youth Council, contact community@gedling.gov.uk 

Activities and Achievements

Young people delivered an Anti Bullying survey and campaign in local schools, and continues to focus on improving Young People's Mental Health, Wellbeing and Safety.

The Youth Council led a Borough- wide Young People's consultation in 2021, to find out what is important to young people. Over 260 young people responded.

An Action plan and set of Mission Statements in response to the consultation is central to the work of the Gedling Youth Council.

The Youth Council nominates a Youth Mayor, whom is formally appointed annually at the Council's AGM and Mayor Making.

In 2021 the Gedling Youth Council received the Lord Lieutenant's Young People's Award for Voluntary Service.

’Make Your Mark’ Campaign

For the last 10 years, The National Youth Parliament Initiative has delivered a campaign called ‘Make Your Mark’, a national ballot to determine the top 10 manifesto priorities to be taken forward by the National Youth Parliament. In 2019, the Gedling contribution to the Countywide ballot was over 25%, thereby demonstrating the Gedling Youth Council’s wholehearted commitment to furthering democracy, citizenship and proactive involvement in decision making around the welfare of young people.

Key priorities for the Gedling Youth Council have included Mental Health, loneliness and isolation, young people’s personal safety, intolerance and wider forms of bullying.

Intergenerational Conference 2019

In March 2019 the Youth Council designed and hosted an Intergenerational event, inviting the Gedling Seniors Council and members of community groups serving the older community to join them in a structured conference to discuss six key subjects of concern to them:

  • School life
  • Bullying/Cyberbullying
  • Prejudice and Discrimination
  • Loneliness and Isolation
  • Mental Health
  • Knife Crime, fear of crime

The outcomes of the conference were compiled into a Manifesto for Development on these six subjects, to be shared with key influencers and decision makers. 

Young People’s Health Champion

One of our members, Eleanor Lumb, fulfilled the role of Countywide Young People’s Health Champion from 2018 - 2020, meeting regularly with the Nottinghamshire Public Health Commissioner to advise on an action plan for Young People’s health.

Gedling Youth Mayor

Gedling elected its first Youth Mayor in June 2019, one of only three Youth Mayors in the County, who acts as a role model and example of citizenship for young people in the Borough.

Amongst many other successful engagements, our first Youth Mayor Abigail Hutchison hosted a School Twinning Delegation from Rotenburg, alongside the Mayor of Gedling and other Youth Council members, and all were widely praised for their conduct and positive engagement with the guests.

Youth Mayors have given presentations at Mapperley and Arnold Rotary Club, to local Gedling Business Club meetings, hosted the stage at Christmas lights switch ons, made addresses at the Queens Platinum Jubilee Beacon Lighting in Gedling Country Park and represented young people at annual Remembrance events in the Borough. The Youth Mayor and Youth Council also led a successful Climate Change campaign, inviting all Gedling primary schools to sign up to ‘Kids Against Plastic’ and reach zero single use plastic status.

Presentations to Full Council

During their involvement with the Gedling Youth Council, members have presented to formal Council meetings on their most personal concerns, showing great honesty and courage in the process, and having an inspirational impact on Elected Council Members and Senior Officers alike.

Gedling Youth Council is widely regarded as one of the best in the County, which also enjoy the most diverse representation, comprising over the years of representatives of local Schools, Youth Clubs and Disability Schools and a strong multicultural mix of young people.

Awards

  • Previous Chair Florence Orchard was the overall winner in the Annual Pride of Gedling Awards 2019.
  • Current Youth Mayor Freddie Vokes was also awarded the Pride of Gedling Young Person’s Award.
  • Gedling Youth Council was awarded the Lord Lieutenant’s Young People’s Volunteering Award in 2020