Anti-Bullying/Peer education/MediationShadow Youth Council, Fermanagh
A group of people elected by post primary age students throughout the county using the PR system.
Target age: 11 - 19
Fermanagh Shadow Youth Council is a group of people elected by post primary age students throughout the county using the Proportional Representation (PR) system. The elections are organised by Fermanagh District Council using all post primary schools and colleges as polling stations and young unemployed people as presiding officers.
Students prioritise candidates from their electoral area and those elected form a "Shadow Council" which sits in the Town Hall once a month for a period of two years.
Shadow councillors are available for consultation by organisations and individuals seeking a youth perspective. The first Shadow Council elected was contacted by over seventy organisations on issues ranging from suicide awareness and the Troubles to oral health.
Shadow councillors also initiated their own projects in response to issues raised by voters on comment cards in schools and colleges. These included a reduced price leisure facilities scheme, a county wide anti-bullying campaign and a youth arts festival.
The first Shadow Council reviewed their two years in office and this review forms the basis for the future development of the Shadow Council. Past Shadow councillors wishing to remain involved will help manage the project and provide back up for newly elected members voted in during the next election.
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