On Monday, 24th March, as part of Gloucestershire Youth Climate Group (GYCG), I had the pleasure of delivering a guest lecture to some politics students at the University of Gloucestershire on community involvement with local government. I talked about who GYCG are and what we do, showcasing how we get involved with councils and local leaders in Gloucestershire and make an impact in the community.
The session involved some open dialogue between us and the students, with both having the chance to ask questions. We asked them about what barriers stop young people from interacting with local government, and about their confidence in navigating that space themselves. They asked some questions about GYCG and how we got into climate activism ourselves. Following this, I discussed how GYCG enables young people to talk to leaders and shared some examples.
GYCG supports its members to engage with local government, and we have talked to various elected representatives in Gloucestershire – from district and county councillors to MPs. We speak to leaders through various means, like being a youth rep at council meetings or inviting them to events like WCID (‘What Can I Do?’), where we had an MP panel. I think for a lot of young people, speaking to these leaders can feel very inaccessible, and it feels like we don’t have a place at the table, but GYCG gives us a voice and a way to represent the group’s views in front of important people.
It’s always great to spread the word about GYCG and, hopefully, inspire other young people to realise their own influence and power within society and government. On a personal note, it was especially meaningful for me to return to my alma mater after graduating last year. I like to give back to the places and communities that helped shape me.
Jay, Member of the GYCG
