YORK’S younger residents had their chance to tell the people in charge of schools, roads, and parks, how well they think they are doing.

The city’s first open forum for primary school pupils took place at the council headquarters today, and welcomed children from across York to share their views on their hometown.

York Press:

The City of York Council put on the Primary Voices event in partnership with Clifton Green Primary School. Eighteen schools from all over York sent some 70 participants – pupils and staff - to join in, and councillors from all the main political parties were there as well

Cllr Stuart Rawlings, executive member for education said: “Giving children a voice and listening to them is something we do well in York and I welcome this new and innovative forum and introduction to democracy.

“I hope it will give children a lasting interest in speaking up and representing their communities and I’m looking forward to hearing what they ask and tell us.”

Schools were invited to take pupils from Years 5 and 6 or from their school council, to come and share the views of their school community.

They had the chance talk to councillors and officers, take part in workshops, hear about how City of York Council operates and experience democracy in action.

Jon Stonehouse, the council’s director of children, education and community spoke at the event and there were then question and answer sessions with several councillors and council executives, as well as workshops on creating a budget for a community - with the children finding the areas they would choose to spend money on.The students also took part in a workshop on campaigning, and were challenging to come up with ways of doing things like persuading families on to their bikes. John Hattam, community liaison worker at Clifton Green Primary School and event organiser, said: “It was great to see young people being given a chance to have their say, and raise the issues that are close to their hearts.”

The children discussed a host of issues, raising concerns about everything from the amount of litter in parks to challenges such as supporting homeless people in York and reducing the levels of poverty. Mr Hattam said: “The event was a real success and the plan is to run it again next year, hopefully making it an annual event and introducing a “Secondary Voices” for secondary students.”