YOUNG people across Devon are being invited to consider becoming members of the UK Youth Parliament.

The next elections will take place between January 12 and 16 in schools and youth centres around the county.

Devon has three seats in the youth parliament and members have to be aged between 11 and 18.

Information about the parliament has been sent to schools and youth centres.

Devon County Council?s Champion for Young People Cllr Joan Morrish said she hoped sparking young people?s interest in local democracy and how parliament and councils worked would help reverse the trend towards low voting turnouts in elections.

?People are not aware of how parliament works and councils function and how they can get their views across,? she said.

?It is very important that we start with young people to demonstrate that there are ways for them to make their voices heard and to influence and shape policy.?

Devon County Council?s executive member for lifelong learning Cllr Saxon Spence said: ?This is a very welcome initiative which I hope will attract young people from all over Devon.

?It is a wonderful opportunity to take the views of Devon to the UK Youth Parliament so that there is an understanding of the issues affecting life for young people in both the towns and rural areas of this county.?

Elections were held last January and the MYPs started their terms of office in February.

Highlights of their year were meeting Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in London, attending the Big Voice Day ? an information gathering event arranged by the MYPs and Deputy MYPs from Devon and the National Siting at Lancaster University, where the manifesto is written before being forwarded to the Government.

Samantha Hill, who represents Mid Devon, said she had gained confidence and skills in public speaking.

?I have learnt more about politics, youth work and life in general and would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking about it,? she said.

?You do have to be a certain type of person to be an effective MYP and be good at communicating, have quite a lot of time to give (about a day a week on average) and be committed, enthusiastic and a good team player.?

Samantha is now considering a career in youth work or a job connected to the running of the youth parliament.

?I think the UK youth parliament is going to grow and grow until every person aged 11 to 18 is aware that they have a UKYP representative,? she added. ?

When this happens the government will be forced to listen to us and then the voice of the country?s youth will finally be heard.?