Welcome to Your Vote Week

You should get involved and welcome to your vote weeks that young people have the opportunity to have a say in the issues that affect them directly.

You should get involved with Welcome to Your Vote Week because it's very important to allow your students to have the opportunity to learn about democracy.

You should get involved in Welcome to Your Vote Week because it's really important for young people to be politically educated, especially with votes at 16 coming in.

Welcome to Your Vote Week is a week where we get to celebrate democracy, and that you can find out how you can get involved with the UK democracy system.

I think that it's very important that young people get involved as we are constantly being affected by decisions made around us. So if these decisions affect us, I think you get to say your thoughts in it.

So I have three messages for young people on Welcome to Your Vote Week:

First of all, take part; register, vote if you can do, just get out of there and vote.

Second, ask questions. If you have issues that matter to you, write to your local counsellor, write to your local MP, explain what's wrong and what they can do about it.

And third, get inspired. Look at and learn from other young people who've made the change.

So those are my three messages: take part, ask questions and get inspired.

Please get involved in Welcome to Your Vote Week.

The theme for Welcome to Your Vote Week 2026 is why voting matters. So this theme is all about discovering the difference voting makes, and how young people can have their voices heard.

The week's really, really important because it can teach your students about the importance of voting processes such as democracy and how they impact them in real time.

Now is more important than ever with the Senedd elections, Scottish Parliament elections and local English elections coming up, that all young people should get their voices heard.

It's a great opportunity for young people to explore why voting is important to them, and discuss the impact that their vote have can have on their everyday lives.

Young people are the future of democracy and the future of our country. As educators and as role models, it is your responsibility to encourage their participation and engagement in the democratic process.

So, the time to act is now - with Welcome to Your Vote Week!