Our Democracy Commission Cross Party Working Group invited some Kirklees Council officers and Dr Andy Mycock from the University of Huddersfield to share some of their current work to support our young citizens, and to share their aspirations for future projects, at a meeting on 16th January 2019.

1. Civic Pathways for Young Citizens
developing an environment and culture
that nurtures young citizens’ interest
in local democracy

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Existing work
• 18 month innovation programme with NCS Trust
• Encouraging more 15-17 year olds in Kirklees to take part in NCS
• Engaging young people in social action projects
• Councillors playing a key role in supporting the programme
Future aspirations
• Joined up youth social action pathways from age 11–25 with NCS,
Including Princes Trust, Duke of Edinburgh etc.
• Young people linked to councillor-supported social action activity in wards
• NCS playing a key role in supporting social mobility, community cohesion
and addressing local priorities.
Learning and Early Support
National Citizen Service

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Existing work
• Improved Apprenticeship pay proposal.
• Implementation of a Community Outreach Work programme.
• Apprenticeship outreach targeted at under-represented groups and deprived areas in Kirklees.
• Apprenticeship advert going out early this year, in line with College and University place offers.
• Additional recruitment drop-in workshops, to coincide with the apprenticeship advert, working in partnership
with Kirklees Council’s Works Better project (upskilling and pre-employment training).
• Events coming-up – Colne Valley High School Apprenticeship evening on 17th January, C&K Apprenticeship
event at the Stadium on 6th February , North Kirklees Apprenticeship Event (Batley Town Hall) on 12th
February.
• Development of a wider talent pool approach to support future apprenticeship vacancies and wider council
vacancies. Targeted recruitment.
• Using the levy to support services with their entry level roles recruitment and CPD for staff of all ages.
• Strategically supporting maintained schools to maximise on apprenticeship levy – pooling of resources.
• Support package for care leavers agreed, including Saturday Jobs scheme.
Future aspirations
• Development of a more strategic and co-ordinated approach to placements within the council, with key
partners such as the University of Huddersfield.
• Review of our approach to work placements – young employees sharing ideas on creative recruitment.
• Better joined up working across the district to support young people i.e. Elections / SMEs
People Services - Apprenticeships

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Existing work
• Democracy sessions in schools (supporting councillor-led sessions)
• UK Parliament Education Programme
• Local Democracy Week programme of events
• Awards
• National Citizen Service
• Kirklees Youth Council (introduction to local democracy and leadership skills)
• Democracy Ambassadors Programme (Manor Croft Academy )
• Young People’s Voice, Influence and Change
Future aspirations
• Growing a Stronger Youth Council
• Develop local democracy resources and co-ordinated civic pathways programme
• Deliver UK Parliament Education Programme (work to Silver & Gold Ambassadors)
• Sharing stories and celebrating the success and achievements of young citizens
Area and Neighbourhood Team

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Existing work
• My Country My Vote – Schools programme
• My Country My Vote - Changemakers
• School Twinning - “Carry My Story” 2018-19
• Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers Drop In
Future aspirations
• Leadership programme
• Citizenship education – Madrassahs
• My Country My Vote - Changemakers
Communities - Cohesion Team
Kirklees

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Existing work
• Workshops within citizenship lessons – Honley High (pilot)
• Democracy Ambassadors Programme – Moorend & Thornhill Academy
• Partnership working in schools with Huddersfield Town Foundation
• Partnership working with KITS & other career based organisations
• Partnership with NCS (Summer workshops)
• Empower programme
• Voter registration activities
Future aspirations
• Delivery of workshops across schools with a view to the integration of
voluntary automatic electoral registration in schools
• Trained Democracy Ambassadors to deliver training across other schools
• Continuation of partnership working to reach young people
• Publicity campaign - 50 years since the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18
Electoral Services

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Existing work
• My Country, My Vote project
• Votes at 16 research project
• ‘Town and Gown’ Student Local Democracy project - Notwestminster workshop
• University Ward / Constituency Meeting project
• Kirklees Council Work Placement project
• NCS development
• Kirklees Council and University of Huddersfield Partnership Working Event
Future aspirations
• Publication of Lowering the Voting Age report (LGA) - Links to UK-wide Leverhulme Trust project
• Civic University project
• Local Democratic Education project
• Civic Pathways for Young Citizens project and evaluation
University of Huddersfield