DON'T be a Nerd, Be Heard — that's the message going out to young people in West Devon next week as part of Local Democracy Week.
The borough council is among more than 250 councils up and down the country who are preparing to take part in the nationwide event from October 13 to 19 — 'Listening to tomorrow's voters today'.
The council has teamed up with West Devon Environmental Network's Involve Project, which aims to get young people to make their mark in politics.
Involve Project manager Mo Morel will be leading three workshops next Tuesday and Thursday with the sixth forms at Tavistock, Okehampton and Kelly Colleges.
The workshops will include:
l A game of human bingo!
l Democracy fun quiz
l Post-It ideas storm on issues important to young people. West Devon councillors will also be at the workshops to listen to what the 17 and 18-year-olds have to say.
Mo said: 'The Involve Project started in April 2003 and we have certainly raised awareness of the importance of becoming politically active locally and nationally.
'We are only too aware just how young people feel detached from the process and feel that politics has no relevance to their lives.
'But by empowering them to make their voices heard in the corridors of power, positive change is a real possibility for our young voters.'
Posters and flyers about the work of Involve have been sent out to organisations and work places across the borough.
Mo said: 'I hope this will encourage more young people to become involved in the decision making process and not leave it to others who may be of a different generation and out of touch with their needs.'
l Local Democracy Week — which is an initiative by the Local Government Association — is about ensuring young people feel they have a real stake in the democratic process and a real say about the services provided by their local council.
The week also aims to help redress the fall in interest in local and national politics and the decline in turnout for elections.