LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEK

BEDFORDSHIRE YOUTH CABINET PETITION LOCAL COUNCILLORS

As well as being crowned 2008 Bedford Youth Champion I took part in several other Local Democracy Week events last week. On Friday two Bedford Borough Councillors and I met 15 members of Bedfordshire Youth Cabinet to discuss their Transport Project and how to progress their recommendations.

They were a lively group as you can see in the photograph above - I am in a pink jacket in the middle receiving the Project X Petition, signed by 2,200 young people. Project X builds on the success achieved in 2007 when the Youth Cabinet secured £50,000 to spend on a Transport Token Scheme to help young people, especially those in rural areas, access positive activities outside school.

I am delighted that so many young people take a keen interest in politics and I will to continue to be an advocate for young people in my role as Bedford Youth Champion. The Youth Cabinet will be invited to the next County Council Children's Services Committee meeting in November to give a presentation on their Transport Project to members of the Committee and Council officers.

MY FIRST INDIAN WEDDING

Yesterday I attended my first Indian Hindu wedding. My friend and I arrived late but apparently Indian weddings often run late and it started after we arrived. The ceremony was very long and we were invited to go and eat while it was still going on - very different from an English wedding! The bride wore red and gold and all the Indian ladies were dressed in saris but most of the Indian men wore English suits. A truly fascinating experience.

My victory as 2008 Bedford Youth Champion was publicised on the Beds on Sunday website and Chiltern Radio and I received compliments from 2 former Bedford Youth Champions, Andrew McConnell and Peter Hand, both Conservative Councillors.
Thank you Andrew for your Blog article on Blogging for Bedford

Sadly my week was overshadowed by the death of my 93 year old aunt in Portsmouth so I have a funeral on Friday. Aunt Erina was in poor health for months but lived a long and interesting life, which we shall celebrate at Portsmouth Cathedral.

BEDFORD YOUTH CHAMPION!

LYNNE FAULKNER IS CROWNED 2008 BEDFORD YOUTH CHAMPION!


'After a hard fought 2 week contest Councillor Lynne Faulkner was elected the 2008 Bedford Youth Champion today, beating Cllr Apu Bagchi and 4 other Borough Councillors'

Over 300 students from 9 Bedford Borough schools registered on line to take part in the "I'm A Councillor Get Me Out of Here" Event. During the two weeks students asked 557 questions of the 6 Councillors. Lynne answered 105 questions and chatted online to students from 3 Upper Schools and visited John Bunyan Upper School. Every day this week one Councillor was voted off and this afternoon Lynne was elected the 2008 Youth Champion for Bedford - the 3rd Conservative Councillor to win the Event.

"I am thrilled to have won this contest and worked very hard to interact daily with young people across Bedford Borough, answering their questions honestly and openly"

This event was part of Local Democracy Week, with various events run by all the Councils in Bedfordshire. As a County Councillor I also took part in Take Your Councillor to School, Political Speed Dating and Project X - meeting members of the Bedfordshire Youth Cabinet to discuss their Transport Project.

The aim was to engage young people in local democracy, letting them to express their views to local councillors and it was an exciting event and a great learning experience for us all.