Nottingham College hosts ‘BIG VOTE’ for UK Parliament Week
As part of UK Parliament Week (24th to 30th November), Nottingham College hosted a BIG VOTE event at its Adams campus, aimed at reigniting young people’s interest in politics and voting. With national voter engagement at an all-time low, and the voting age expected to be lowered to 16 at the next general election, this initiative couldn’t be more timely.
Organised by Foundation Learning students, including those most at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training), the event is part of a wider democracy project supported by Nottingham City Council. Students ran a real-life voting process, complete with guest speakers and workshops on democracy and voter registration, with an aim for more than 2,000 students and staff to cast their vote.
To bring the project to life visually, students have teamed up with Nottingham Art Fest as well as local artists to design a mural that celebrates the power of voting. The winning design will be installed in the Adams Building library, serving as a lasting reminder that voting can lead to real, positive change.
The campus created a simulated voting setting to give students a realistic feel for the process. Students registered their names, received a ballot card, visited booths featuring murals representing different ‘parties,’ cast their vote into a ballot box, and proudly walked away with an 'I Voted' sticker - just like in an actual election.
18-year-old Foundation Learning student, Yara Mahmood, spent the day working the registration desk for her fellow students. She said: “We are here for young people under 18 to have the chance to experience voting for the first time. It’s been great to vote on something nice like choosing a mural for the library, and it also helps us for the future and have our voices heard.”
Mandi Chandler, Head of Student Experience at Adams campus, said: “This is about breaking down barriers and busting myths around the democratic voting system. We want to empower our students to have a voice. By involving artists, we hope to make the experience less daunting and more fun, so that when they do come to vote in the next election, they’re more likely to do so. It’s really important for our young people to be heard.”
Chief Executive and Principal of Nottingham College, Janet Smith, said: “I am absolutely delighted to support the BIG VOTE and I felt privileged to be the first person to cast their vote. Our democratic rights are important and truly worth protecting. It was fabulous to see students of all ages participating in the event, gaining an understanding of how ballots are managed end-to-end, and experiencing at first hand the voting process. For many of our students this was an entirely new experience, an introduction to democracy in action.
“Thank you to Nottingham City Council and to the staff who helped our foundation learning students plan and implement the BIG VOTE. The project was inspirational and a huge success.”