Have your say in Local Democracy Week

The nationwide event runs from 15-19 October, and will see a variety of initiatives aimed at encouraging people to take up the right to vote, get involved in local government and have a say in their Council.

One of the main events in Coventry will be a schools' debating competition involving Year 12 students from schools across the city. Students will be debating motions on a variety of topics in the Council Chamber on Wednesday 17 October.

Another event will see voters of the future given a taste of what it's like to be in civic office.

Lord Mayor Tim Sawdon will be inviting three pupils from Grange Farm Primary School to shadow him for the day and take on important civic duties, including presiding over a Citizenship Ceremony.  The three pupils will be selected by the Lord Mayor via a painting competition on "What does Coventry mean to you?"

The Lord Mayor will also be holding a charity quiz night at Esquires Coffee Shop in the Transport Museum from 6pm on Tuesday 16 October.

The event is being run in partnership with the Coventry Youth Council and city councillors and young people will form teams to battle it out for honours and raise money for the Lord Mayor's Charity Appeal - The Heart of England Community Foundation.

Councillor Phil Townshend, Cabinet Member (Community Safety and Equalities), said: "During Local Democracy Week the City Council will be encouraging all of the people of Coventry, especially our younger citizens, to get to know the City Council better and to participate in Council events, such as Ward Forums, presenting petitions and attending Council meetings.

"Hopefully, this process will encourage more people, from all backgrounds and experience, to go on to become the councillors and leaders of the future!"

Other events include: secondary school pupils invited in to the Council House to take part in a competition to run their very own "virtual" Council; an online competition to test people's Council knowledge; a display in the Council House; and regular tweets from Council meetings.

For more information on Local Democracy Week, contact Matthew Rossi, Governance Services Officer, on 024 7683 3075.