Democracy Packs: Special deliveries from District Council launched

Date:  24 October 2006

Amongst the presents and cards tumbling onto their doorstep, young people in Three Rivers will now receive a special delivery from their District Council on their 18th birthday.

The District Council launched the 'Democracy Packs' at St Clement Danes School in Chorleywood on Thursday 19 October as part of Local Democracy Week last week.

The packs include a special 'Happy 18th Birthday!' booklet which looks at how democracy affects almost everything we do and see every day, plus examples of the District Council's work, who does what at the different levels of democracy, useful websites, and more.

The packs also include information on how to vote for the first time from the Electoral Commission; an A-Z Guide to the District Council's services; how to vote if away from home at college or university; and a How to Contact Your Councillors booklet.

The packs were launched at St Clement Danes School by the Council's Chief Executive Steven Halls with sixth form students Matt Brooke, Alison Louis, Simone Dean, and Georgia Braham.

The District Council's Chief Executive, Steven Halls, says:

"Your 18th birthday is a real landmark.  In a democracy, I believe it is important that young people take part in the democratic process at the earliest opportunity, not just by voting but also by finding out how they can get involved in other ways and by being aware of who does what at the local and national level.  We hope that these packs will not only give our new generation of voters plenty of useful information for when they vote for the first time, but also encourage them to participate in democracy in other ways, too."

During Local Democracy Week the District Council also held an Open Day at its offices in Rickmansworth, attended by 100 Year 7 pupils from St Joan of Arc School.