Smart School Councils wins NESTA's Democracy Pioneer Award

Here at Smart School Councils, we’ve made it our mission to make sure that all students can make their voices heard in their school communities and are able to have have a positive experience with democracy from a young age. We believe that by showing young people that their participation in democracy can create change, they’ll be more likely to want to continue to participate in the democratic process as they get older.

We are thrilled to announce that last week, we were awarded NESTA’s Democracy Pioneers Award for our work towards accomplishing this mission. This award recognised 19 organisations which are, in NESTA’s words, ‘working in radical ways to shake up civic participation in the UK’.

In this unique political moment, where there is a widespread lack of trust in our democratic institutions, it is more important than ever before to get people involved and help them make their voices heard. It is an honour to be recognised alongside 18 other organisations which are working towards this same goal of re-engaging people in democracy. We are very excited to continue pursuing this mission and to collaborate with these other Democracy Pioneers moving forward!

Congratulations to the other organisations named Democracy Pioneers!

Be Buckfastleigh: @bebuckfastleigh

Democracy Club: @democlub

Economy: @economyasks

Full Fact: @fullfact

Shout Out UK: @shoutout_uk

Highway Hope: @highwayhope_

Democracy Friendly Schools: @kirkdemocracy @kirkleesyc

Let’s Talk… Mainstreaming PB: @fifecouncil

NewsWise: @getnewswise

mySociety: @mysociety

Participatory Democracy for Climate Change: @glasgowcc @glasgowcpp

People’s Priorities for the North: @peoplespowerhse

Resistance Lab: @gfscstudio @npolicemonitor

TheatreState in association with Leeds Playhouse: @theatrestate @seddontess @leedsplayhouse

The Parliament Project: @theparliamentp

User Voice: @uservoiceorg

Women’s Aid- Law in the Making Project: @womensaid

Democracy in Social Care: @comintcare