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Case studies
General public
This section provides you with some ideas to help you promote electoral awareness in your area.
- Arun District Council: What does a councillor look like? »
- Hampshire County Youth Council: Democracy Dinner »
Don't forget to look at our toolbox and how to...files for resources on promoting public awareness.
Arun District Council: What does a councillor look like?
Arun District Council, in conjunction with the Sussex Association of Local Councils, held an event aimed at encouraging more residents to become councillors. Over 40 people attended the event where they were given the opportunity to speak to town, parish and district councillors to find out more about their role and how they could get involved.
The event ran a series of rolling workshops on life as a councillor with councillors on hand to answer any questions and stands displaying relevant information. Information included:
- frequently asked questions
- active involvement of the district council with children and young people
- quality town and parish councils
- Arun's services
- town and parish council services
- vox pop of serving councillors, including their current 'daytime' occupations
- poem about being a councillor composed specially for the event by a serving councillor
There was also a technology section with hands-on opportunities:
- IT training and resources for councillors
- parish and district websites
- councillor quest (a computer game)
- DVD on becoming a town or parish councillor
- rolling powerpoint presentation of pictures of scenes and people from around the district
Timeline: Two months
Overall budget: No specific budget as majority of costs are absorbed internally by the participating departments including staffing. Printing/Refreshment costs totalled around £300.
Number of people working on the project: Including organising and participating in the event, 27: made up of 13 officers, nine serving councillors and six Arun youth councillors.
Useful tools: What does a councillor look like press release
Hampshire County Youth Council: Democracy dinner
Hampshire County Youth Service organised a democracy dinner at Winchester Guildhall for 32 people from the local community together with The Mayor of Winchester, other local councillors and prominent community members.
Together they discussed:
- How can democracy survive when fewer and fewer people support parties?
- Should there be more teaching in schools about political issues?
- Should you have more of a direct say over political decisions?
- Should referendums be used more widely?
- Should voting be made compulsory?
- Should ballot papers include a none of the above option?
The questions were discussed over a three course meal with videos of Mark Oaten MP, Boris Johnson MP and George Young MP shown, expressing their views on the issues.
Timeline: two months, ideally four
Overall budget: £1,750
Number of people working on the project: five
Useful tools: Democracy dinner feedback; democracy dinner report. The video shown on the evening can be seen via www.hcycweb.net.
