The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea celebrates local democracy week each October with a range of activities designed to engage residents—particularly young people—in civic life.
Synopsis
In 2023, the the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's governance team delivered a comprehensive democracy morning for Year 12 politics students, featuring a Town Hall tour, Q&A sessions, and a student debate. The council also ran a targeted social media campaign to reach younger audiences. Feedback was positive, and the format has since been replicated for future school visits. The borough’s approach reflects a growing commitment to making local government accessible and relevant to young people.
Background
The council aims to demystify local government, encourage youth participation, and provide meaningful opportunities for residents to engage with democratic processes. The 2023 programme focused on educating students about local government and inspiring future civic involvement.
Project setup and engagement
In 2023, the Governance team hosted a democracy morning for Year 12 politics students from Chelsea Academy. The session included:
- A town hall tour.
- A Q&A with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
- Talks from a local councillor, the youth participation officer, and Early Careers Network members.
- A student debate in the Council Chamber on the motion: “Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?”
Students were assigned to argue either side of the motion, regardless of personal views, and the session concluded with a vote using a ballot box. Feedback via Slido showed students particularly valued the debate and the opportunity to speak with the Mayor.
Impact
The format proved highly successful and was replicated for further school visits the following year. Students gained a deeper understanding of local democracy and enjoyed the interactive elements of the session.
Lessons learned
The council found that structured, interactive sessions — especially debates were effective in engaging young people. Feedback highlighted the importance of direct interaction with elected officials and hands-on experiences.
Recommendations
Councils considering similar initiatives may benefit from:
- Including debates and Q&A sessions with elected representatives.
- Offering behind-the-scenes tours of civic spaces.
- Using feedback tools such as Slido to gather insights from participants.
Reflections and future outlook
Alongside in-person activities, the council ran a small-scale social media campaign aimed at young people. Following discussions with the Youth Council, the communications team produced content on:
- What the council does.
- A short history of local democracy.
- A video tour of the Council Chamber led by young people.
The campaign was shared on Instagram and TikTok, using tailored content to meet younger audiences where they are. The council continues to explore public-facing events such as debates and councillor Q&As, particularly in the lead-up to elections, reflecting a growing focus on youth engagement in local government.