Young people take over council chamber for Big Debate

Young people are invited to take part in a Big Debate to be held at Bury Town Hall on Wednesday 26 November.

Anyone aged 11-19 who lives or studies in Bury can join the debate in the council chamber from 4pm to 6pm.

It’s part of a national initiative called Make Your Mark in which young people were balloted to tell the UK Youth Parliament what they should be discussing.

Some 3,457 people who took part were from Bury, and their top three issues were:

  
• Work experience – young people should have the chance to do at least a week’s placement at a place of their choosing. They should have access to professionals who inspire them
 
• Bring back exam re-sits in maths and English in schools and help young people achieve their full potential
 
• Everyone should be paid at least the Living Wage of £7.65 per hour (£8.80 in London). Anyone who works, regardless of age, should have a decent standard of living.

The Big Debate in Bury will decide which of these three topics should be a focus for Bury Youth Cabinet to campaign for.

For more information please contact Heather Walton on h.walton@bury.gov.uk or 0161 253 7165.

ENDS

Press release issued: 18 November 2014.