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Scouts and politicians encourage young people to vote
15/03/2010
Politicians Vernon Coaker MP, Lillian Greenwood and Ewan Lamont joined Scouts from across the country this weekend to launch Active Citizens: Virgin Voters - a special website designed to encourage first-time voters to participate in the upcoming General Election.Activecitizens.net was unveiled on Saturday at a special event in Nottingham to encourage youth participation in local and national political activity.
Amy Brunsdon a ‘virgin voter’, Scout and student from Berkshire said: ‘I think this is a really great idea. This year will be the first time that I will be able to vote and it’s great that Scouting is helping out by offering everything I need to know about getting started.’
Amy is just one of 10,000 Scouts and Young Leaders who will be eligible to vote for the first time this year. The Scout Association wants to give them the tools and information they need not only on how to vote, but more importantly why they should vote.
Helping young people engage in democracy
Activecitizens.net was created by The Scout Association in partnership with Oxfam GB and The Hansard Society.
It features general information about voting, campaigning and volunteering, as well as offering a number of practical tools including how to register to vote, how to start a campaign, and local volunteering opportunities.
It also hosts a forum that will enable MPs, councillors and prospective local and national candidates to participate in online discussions; allowing them to directly engage with young people on issues of concern to them.
Vernon Coaker, Lillian Greenwood and Ewan Lamont took time out of their busy campaigning schedules to join the young people - many of them first time voters – to talk about the issues that they want to see politicians addressing in the coming General Election.
Coaker, the Minister for Schools said, 'I thoroughly enjoyed the event with the Scouts. Young people are our future and obviously the future health of our democracy depends on their active involvement, so let's hope more young people vote as a consequence of this event. However, politicians also have a responsibility and I will do everything I can to engage with young people.'
Make yourself heard at Westminster
A second event will be held in London on Saturday 20 March in Westminster from 11am to 1pm.
If you are a young person age 14 to 25 with an interest in who represents you, or can't vote but want to learn more about other ways change your community for the better, then come along.
Email The Scout Association’s Public Affairs and Campaigns team to register your interest.
Further information
Active Citizens: Virgin Voters
The Hansard Society
Oxfam GB
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