This week marked a genuinely exciting milestone for Tiverton, and I wanted to share some reflections on a project that’s been close to my heart for some time now.
Since last year, I’ve been working to find meaningful ways to connect young people in our town with the decisions that shape their lives. Having witnessed first-hand the incredible impact of the Devon Youth Council at county level, I became convinced that we needed to bring that same energy and enthusiasm to Tiverton.
It started with a simple question: why aren’t we asking young people what they think? From there, I set up a working group with support from my colleague Councillor David Wulff, and we began reaching out to local schools and community groups.
Over the summer and into this autumn, we held workshops with students from Blundell’s, Tiverton High and Uffculme School. The conversations were genuinely inspiring. These young people aren’t apathetic or disengaged – far from it. They see the same challenges in our town that we do, and they’re eager to be part of the solution. They just need to be asked.
This week, four students stood before Tiverton Town Council and pitched their ideas with confidence and clarity. They proposed three projects: improving town centre safety, creating a youth-led pop-up shop, and contributing to our Christmas celebrations. The council voted to support all three and agreed to explore establishing a formal youth council for Tiverton.
One moment that really stuck with me was when a young person was asked what adults get wrong about them. Their answer was simple: “Give us a chance to speak publicly or share our opinions.” That, in a single sentence, is the entire case for a youth council.
I’m grateful to everyone who’s contributed to this effort – Sustainable Tiverton, local councillors, the town mayor, and of course the young people themselves. We’re also working alongside Exeter University’s ChYMe research project, who have been studying young people’s wellbeing in Tiverton for over a year.
This is just the beginning, but it feels like a genuine turning point. I truly believe this is a once-in-a-generation step for our town, and I can’t wait to see what Tiverton’s young people achieve when they’re given the platform they deserve.
Here’s a version of the story that made the local papers: https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/26578804.tiverton-council-backs-plans-give-young-people-greater-voice/