The Democracy Project

The Democracy Project was developed to give students and young people in Coventry the opportunity to learn about and gain the skills to participate in the democratic process. You can learn more about how the Democracy Project works and how YOU can get involved.

Why does the Democracy Project exist?

The aim of the Democracy Project is to establish and maintain structures to enable young people in Coventry to participate in the democratic process whilst also providing appropriate levels of training and support.

The Democracy Project works with school councils, youth forums, Coventry Youth Council and the UK Youth Parliament.

What opportunities does the Democracy Project offer?

The project builds a democratic tradition with young people and offers three areas of opportunities, training and personal development:

Motivational – personal development programmes, leadership training and peer education training targeted to increase the ability of young people to participate.
Structural – developing and supporting structures to encourage participation, such as the Coventry Youth Council, local youth forum, school and college councils.
Curriculum – where young people become involved in significant decision-making processes, community action, volunteering and developing their ability to exercise their rights and responsibilities.

Development of school councils, Coventry Youth Council and other projects

The project has assisted in developing school councils in 18 secondary schools across Coventry. This has enabled young people who want to be part of their schools decision-making processes to actively and effectively participate. The school councils have also been a stepping-stone for young people to be involved in Coventry Youth Council.

There are currently school councils in all secondary schools in Coventry. The Democracy Project continues to support school councils through:

specific work with an individual group of students or teachers
schools councils conference held yearly
school councils training
advice and guidance for teachers and students.

The project also developed the Coventry Youth Council, five years ago. Coventry Youth Council meets every fortnight in the Council House to look at ways young people can be involved in decision making at all levels.
This group of young people regularly meet with councillors and have recently influenced the way council reports/documents are presented - there is now a section for members to consider the impact documents may have on children and young people. The young people have also taken part in local, national and international events.

The project also supports other youth forums across the city including social services and the Teenage Pregnancy Unit, enabling disadvantaged young people to have a voice in order to influence service design and delivery.

More examples of programmes and forums that the Democracy Project runs are available on the right-hand side.

How you can get involved and make a difference to your community?

Go to Coventry Youth Council's page and to find out how you can get involved in the democratic process. Remember the best place to start is your own school and move up from there. For advice contact the Democracy Project

Contact the Democracy Project

The Democracy Project,
57 Ribble Road,
Stoke
CV3 1AW
Tel: 02467 786208
e-mail: april.donnelly@coventry.gov.uk

Coventry City Council