Ever wondered what it`s like to be a councillor?

You said…   we want to know more about what councillors do

We did…   helped give Barrow young people a taste of a day in the life of an elected member

Young people in Barrow experienced a day in the life of a councillor recently.

Pupils tested their responses to real life community issues through role play exercises with staff from Barrow’s Community Unit Youth Re:Action team and county and borough councillors Lisa Hammond, Jill Heath and David Marcus.

The team got pupils to think about how they would respond to members of the public who were concerned about a proposed youth shelter in a local park. Whilst some thought it was a great way to stop young people hanging around the local shops, others saw it as moving the problem on to their own doorsteps. 

Afterward the pupils discussed the exercise and found that, in reality, the proposed shelter was dropped and alternative places for young people to meet were developed.

Youth Re:Action Team Project Manager Katie Carr said the team all enjoyed the session and found it useful.   “Pupils now have a much better understanding of how decisions are made and were pleased with how much the Councillors listened to their views.” 

Derek Brook, Community Development Officer said:  “It was gratifying to see the young people grow in confidence as the role play exercise came together in a “public meeting” chaired by a Youth Re:Action Team member”.