Young people and politics

The British Youth Council has published the Youth Select Committee report 2014 on lowering the voting age to 16.

Key points include that:

• Whilst maturity is difficult to assess objectively, the evidence suggested that people aged 16 and 17 were mature enough to vote;
• There is evidence to suggest that lowering the voting age may improve political engagement amongst young people, as well as increasing their influence over government possibility;
• Lowering the voting age should be accompanied by a step change in political education, with increased funding for training and resources for citizenship teachers, as well as the introduction of a politics GCSE; and
• Lowering the voting age presents a unique opportunity to create permanent changes to the UK’s political culture.

To download the full report visit www.byc.org.uk/media/247458/byc_2014_report_print_.pdf.

The Preparing for Adulthood programme, run by NDTi and the Council for Disabled Children has created a new film, explaining the importance of involving young people in decision making. To view the film visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtDEbeXoV5M&feature=youtu.be.