Richard is PPC for Watford and explains here the mutual benefits of the innovative work experience programme he has introduced this summer for 16-23 year olds in the constituency.
When I began campaigning in Watford this year, it became clear to me that young volunteers in all the political parties were few and far between. The County Council and European election Campaigns were driven almost exclusively by middle aged and elderly people. I place myself very firmly in these categories. My 19 year old son pointed out that young people were not interested in Branches, Committees, Associations and all the paraphernalia of our activities at a local level. I agreed, but argued that politics could and should be something that young people consider to be both important and exciting.
Together with our Campaign Manager Peter Ganney, a pre-geriatric 26 year old, we decided to put together an organised work experience scheme over the summer holidays for 16 to 23 year olds. The plan was to make it fun, informative and good for the students’ CVs, but useful to us politically in helping us canvass the constituency, get people to put up posters at elections, and hopefully bring some youthful energy into future campaigns.
We placed an ad in the local paper and did some leafleting in the high street, but recruited most of the youngsters from direct mail and follow up. Using the electoral register and our recent canvass returns, we identified all 18-23 year olds living in Conservative households. We then hand delivered 400 letters with leaflets to them. A banging on the door follow-up produced most of the volunteers. There were more than 50 of them.
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