It’s cool, says voter aged 12 as County Council launches public ballot

The ‘High Wycombe Decides’ ballot permits children from the age of 11 to vote alongside adults to select how to allocate £17,500 of funding from Buckinghamshire County Council.

It was launched at 11am in Church Street in the town centre as the eight projects involved turned up to rally for support and show the public what they do on a range of varied stalls and displays.

One of the first children to explore the new voting rights was Maddie Briant, aged 12, of High Wycombe, who saw the launch as she walked through town. Maddie said: “It’s cool, because you can get your point across.”

The County Council is running the project through its High Wycombe Local Area Forum (LAF).

Val Letheren, Chairman of the High Wycombe LAF, was delighted at the interest shown by the public at the launch.

“It’s great to have such nice weather today and I am really pleased to see young people in the crowd having a look around and getting involved,” she said.

The ballot lasts until the end of July. Residents of High Wycombe and Downley will be able to vote online and also via forms which will be available in libraries, post offices, village shops and pubs.

The eight organisations/projects bidding for a share of the £17,500 are: ‘Bucks New Usage’ at Bucks New University; Boomerang Toy Library – Bucks Play Association; Be a Ranger for a Day – Chiltern Rangers; Developing Downley Community Library – The Downley Old School Community Association; ‘Cooking for Confidence’ food education workshops – Empower to Cook CIC; Motor Mechanics Course for young people – SKIDZ; Tenancy Support – Wycombe Homeless Connection; Early Identification and Support of Young Carers in School – Young Carers Bucks.

For more details on the projects and how to vote, go to www.buckscc.gov.uk/communitiesdecide