A year in the life of Burgess Hill Youth Council

The past year has been a very busy time for the town’s Youth Council, which was established in Spring 2024 to give students the experience and opportunity to be Councillors in a real-life setting.  The Youth Council meets bi-monthly in the Town Council’s Chamber and currently consists of members from 9 of the town’s junior and senior schools

Early in the academic year, all Youth Council members have the chance to put themselves forward for the roles of Youth Mayor and Youth Deputy Mayor. Those that chose to do so are named on a ballot paper and voting takes place using a real voting booth.

All members were encouraged to take part in town activities, the first of which was the Sunday Remembrance Parade where the Youth Mayor laid a wreath on behalf of the Youth Council, alongside the Royal British Legion and the many other organisations that take part.

Later in November, Youth Councillors from two schools had the privilege of judging the best-dressed Christmas shop window competition and they attended the presentation of the awards at the town ‘Lights Switch On’ event, where the Youth Council also had stall selling Christmas gifts in aid of their chosen charity, Burgess Hill & District Pantry.

At their Council meetings throughout the year, Youth Councillors discussed a wide range of local and national topics, which included presentations by Sussex Police, Mid Sussex District Food Waste Management and the Town Council Leader on nature reserves and the town’s wildlife.  Members were asked by the Leader to take part in a wildlife photography project during the Easter holidays, the results of which were to be displayed in the Help Point.

During the year, Youth Councillors regularly carried out surveys at their schools covering sports activities, hobbies and ideas for new play equipment in St.John’s Park.  Mid Sussex District Council praised the quality of the ideas and some have been included in the park’s improvement programme.

 A major discussion took place in April regarding the Government’s plan to ban the use of mobile phones in school premises.  A representative from the local MP’s office was present and took back the comments made to be included in a Parliamentary letter to the Department of Education.

The year concluded in June with a conducted tour of Wakehurst Place and the Seed Bank, which was enjoyed by all members, followed by a stall at the Summer Fayre selling bedding and vegetable plants. At the last Council meeting, on 9th July, a presentation cheque for the money raised during the year was given to the Pantry and each member was presented with a Councillor Certificate by the Deputy Town Mayor, David Eggleton, and thanked for their attendance and work during the year.