Welcome!
Christmas is just around the corner, which means that many of the groups and activities that we know of are winding down for a festive break. Don't worry though, there are still plenty of ways for you to get your voice heard and make a difference here in Devon.
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Remember, the Devon Youth Council Network is about your voice! So keep letting us know how to improve it, what you want to see in your newsletters and on social media.
If you are part of a school council or similar group where you represent the views of others – let us know what you're talking about. Or, if you, or your group have a cause or issue you want to see changed then let us know, maybe we can help!
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 Last month we launched our 2024 Make Your Mark campaign, and lots of schools and youth groups have already signed up. Here's how to get involved:
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Tell us what you want to see on the Devon ballot.
You can submit your suggestions for issues or topics that you think should be included on the Devon Make Your Mark ballot. We are particularly keen to hear from school councils, so if your school has a school council please encourage them to submit some of the issues they've been talking about.
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Sign up to take part.
Any school, youth centre or youth group can register to take part in the voting. We are busy creating various resources so that voting is as easy as possible for everyone. Voting needn't take up lots of time and can be done in a matter of minutes, depending on how you choose to vote.
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Share your ideas.
If your school, youth centre or youth group is taking part and has made plans for how to do it, let us know. We've started hearing of some great ideas, and we'd love to share these with others so that more people see how easy it is to vote and how rewarding it is to take part. If you have made plans for how you will be taking part and are willing to share please email us so we can promote it.
We are currently working on a range of resources including lesson/small group plans, assembly plans and online voting cards.
If you have any questions about Make Your Mark, please do not hesitate to contact us, we're happy to work with groups and individuals to figure out what voting might look like in your context.
 There are lots of exciting opportunities to get your voice heard! Upcoming opportunities this month include supporting the UK Youth Parliament's Food for Learning Campaign and joining with British Youth Council to call for votes for 16-year-olds.
The year in review
We want to hear all about what youth voice projects have achieved this year. If you, your school council or a youth group you are part of have made a difference in any way in this past year, we'd love to help shout about it! Email us a short video or voice note explaining what you've achieved, or just send a few words or pictures showing us what you've done.
About You! – our readers survey
We want to find out more about our readers and what you would like to see in the monthly newsletter. We'd really appreciate it if you could take just a couple of minutes to fill in our survey and help make the Youth Council newsletter even better!
Free school meals survey
As part of the UK Youth Parliament National Campaign for Universal Free School meals, the British Youth Council's Youth want to engage 13-25 year old's in the decision making of UK government. Young people are invited to complete this survey to help influence the Youth Voice Advisory Group's meeting with policy officials from the Department for Education in December.
For our Future's Sake. Sign for Change
The British Youth Council has teamed up with The Body shop to ensure young people are included in democracy and have created a petition to call upon the UK government to lower the voting age for 16 for all UK elections.
Submit your positive stories!
We want to hear about the great things you are doing and feature more you in our monthly newsletter. If you have any great stories you want to share, or want to consult with a wider group of young people, please let us know using our submissions form.
Next Youth Council meeting
The next meeting of the Devon Youth Council Network will be held on Saturday 27 January from 11am. This will be where we shortlist all the suggested Devon Make Your Mark issues to the final ten to put on the final ballot ahead of voting throughout February.
Anyone aged 11-18 is welcome to attend this meeting, especially if you are part of a group who has submitted issues for the Devon Make Your Mark. If you would like to attend this meeting and help influence the issues that are put on the Devon Make Your Mark ballot, please email childsc.youthparliament-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
Join our WhatsApp group
We have set up a WhatsApp group where you can find out opportunities as they arise, as well as being able chat with other young people about the issues that matter to you.
The WhatsApp group will be for young people only. If you would like to join, please email us with your mobile number, and we will add you to the group.
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Are you passionate about making a difference in your community but don't know how? Do you want to bring about a positive change surrounding a specific issue? If so, please get in touch!
We would love to hear about what you are doing! And we can also help support you and signpost you to resources that can help you bring about the change you want to see.
There's a lot more to our Youth Council Network than this newsletter too! As well as the opportunities and events mentioned above, we also run a network for workers who support young people to have a voice either within their community or within an organisation. The Participation and Voice Workers Network meet every six weeks for peer support, to share resources and to create opportunities for youth voice to be heard countywide. If you are a worker and would like to be part of this network, please get in touch!
Email ukyouthparliament@devon.gov.uk, or contact us via our socials (see below).
Additionally, if you've received this lovely newsletter but aren't a member of our network yet, you can sign up to the Devon Youth Council here.
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