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 timelier.
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 2000 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.
On 24 November, 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, Ruby Hutcheson, spent the day working at the desk to register her fellow students’ votes. She said: “The event has been really good. It gives us the chance to experience voting and the freedom of our voices heard.”
Fellow student, Yara Mahmood, 18, also assisted on the day. She added: “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.”
