Young people in Lewisham don't need burgers to vote!

The recently published "Representing the Future" report from the Councillors Commission, suggests that voters should be offered incentives such as council tax discounts or fast food vouchers to persuade them to vote in elections.

However, the results of our most recent Young Mayor for Lewisham election prove that incentives aren't needed to get young people interested in democracy. With a turnout of 45% - well above the 34% turnout for Lewisham's adult mayoral election - this election continues to show that the following are the key ingredients for successful engagement:

1. Involve young people from the start - it's young people's slogans, designs and ideas on how to raise awareness that inform the election communications
2. Make it real - young people are voting for a Young Mayor who has a budget of £25,000 to spend on improving the lives of young people in the borough. They will have real authority.
3. Feedback on achievements - the Young Mayor and the Young Advisors who support him / her let their peers know what they are doing and how previous Young Mayoral budgets have been spent. If young people can see that their vote has made a difference they are more likely to listen and learn. (visit www.binvolved.org.uk to find out what the Lewisham Young Mayors have been up to over the past few years).

So adults listen and learn!