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First Young People Parliament
Following the success of its recent Primary Schools Parliament Bath Spa University hosted an equivalent event for older children.
The first Young People's Parliament, for 11 to 16 year olds throughout Bath and North East Somerset, took place on 9 July at the University's Newton Park campus.
Participants from around 20 secondary schools, special schools and voluntary or public sector groups were invited to the event, organised jointly by Bath Spa University and B&NES Children's Services.
The aim of the Parliament is to give young people a voice in current and future developments in the B&NES Children and Young People's Plan. The theme they debated was how to improve communications between their age group and adults.
After a morning of discussion in groups the young people voted on their various proposals, before these were put to the whole assembly for a final debate and decision.
The proposal which attracted most votes came from Three Ways Special School: "Everyone should learn a sign language such as Makaton so that we can all communicate with those with speech and hearing difficulties."
Bath MP Don Foster and 14 B&NES councillors and Children's Services officers were among the adults who attended to hear the young people's ideas.
Press Release Issued 07 July 2010 by School of Education.