Election fever hits Berwick schools

Release date: 02.10.07
Ref: BBC/PR/L&D/31/07

Two Berwick schools have been holding their school council elections this week, with help from Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council’s democratic services unit.
Berwick Middle School invited the Council to come in and run a series of democracy workshops for all the pupils, to help them understand the process before taking part in class elections.

Senior Democratic Services Officer, Gillian Simmons, who organised the workshops said:
“It is great to have the opportunity to introduce youngsters to democracy and how it works. A lot of Councillors have taken part in the workshops, and it has been a good opportunity for them to get the views of young people on a number of topics, and to explain to them how the Council works.”

Berwick Middle School pupils will take part in their elections on Thursday, 4 October, following Holy Trinity First School which held its elections last Monday.

“We customised some ballot boxes for Holy Trinity, to make them a bit more ‘friendly’ for the children to use,” said Gillian. “Hopefully the experience of voting with the proper equipment in school will make it a little less daunting when these youngsters come to vote for the first time in a formal election.”

For further information please contact Gillian Simmons, Senior Democratic Services Officer on 01289 301721 or email gs@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk,