Over 90 children from Ripley Junior School visited the Council Chamber at Ripley Town Hall to find out more about the process of decision-making and democracy.
During their hour long visit the children had the opportunity to question the Mayor of Amber Valley, vote in a mini election and decide how they thought Council Tax should be spent in the Borough.
The two visits, each attended by around 45 children plus teachers and parents, were organised and prepared by Amber Valley Borough Council.
The visit began with a question and answer session with Councillor Peter Arnold, Mayor of Amber Valley. This was followed by a brief discussion around democracy and how Councillors are elected, and an overview of the structure of the Borough Council. At the end of the session the children had the chance to sit at the Council bench and preside over the Council Chamber.
Dawn Hutsby, Assistant Landscape Officer (Education) at Amber Valley Borough Council helped organise the lessons. She said: “We decided we wanted to make the sessions as interactive and interesting as possible by giving the children plenty of opportunity to get involved and have their say. We ran a mini election, complete with ballot papers and ballot boxes, giving them the chance to vote for who they’d choose to be their local councillor!
“Then, after outlining some of the services that the Council provides and explaining where the money comes from to pay for these services, we asked the children to decide what they thought what were the most important things we should spend money on in Amber Valley. The results were really quite thought provoking!”
Kirsty Griffin, one of the teachers who accompanied the pupils from Ripley Junior School added, “The children really enjoyed visiting the Town Hall and the activities enhanced the work we have been doing in school about local democracy.”
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For further information please contact Lisa Garnham, PR and Communications Manager at Amber Valley Borough Council, on 01773 841655.
