Ways to have your say

There are lots of ways to have your say on local matters and these are great opportunities to have your voice heard. You can: 

• Sign up to Let's Talk Oxfordshire to take part in local consultations
• Have your say on health and wellbeing services via Health Watch Oxfordshire
• Become a member of YiPpEe and have your say on topics and issues at Oxford University Hospital

It is also worth asking your place of learning to see if there is a school committee you could join. If they don’t have one – why not ask to start one? 

Good to know: Young people aged 16-25 with special educational needs or disabilities are invited to join the SEND Youth Forum. 

Why you might want to have your say 

Taking part in decision making is great for your CV as well as being a brilliant way to have a positive impact in your local setting or community. 

Some of the benefits are:

• Decision making experience you can add to your CV
• The opportunity to have a positive impact
• Boost confidence and build leadership skills 

Good to know: Changes and decision made in your local community or setting will have an impact on you and your friends. So it’s important to have your say as well as being great for your CV.

Politics and decision making

Learning more about politics can help you understand decisions made in your local area and beyond. 

You can learn more about voting, including how to register and why it matters. 

Find out more about:

• Voting and what to expect
• Contacting your local MP
• Upcoming council, cabinet and committee meetings

Have your say: If you are aged 13+ and living in Oxfordshire, you can have your say on local matters via Let's Talk Oxfordshire.

Mental health and wellbeing

Taking part in decision making is very good for your mental health and wellbeing. It is empowering and helps you understand that you can make a difference. 

There are lots of useful resources, support services, and information available to help you support your mental wellbeing.

Local support includes:

• Tellmi
• Beezee Youth
• Oxfordshire Mind

Crucial: All services for young people should include ways to capture your experiences and opinions. This is important for making services better.