Over 40 sixth form students gathered for an interactive workshop with local councillor Nathan Ley to get a hands on look at how local government priorities are set and public funds allocated.

Working in small groups over pizza, the participants took on the “£1 Billion Budget Challenge,” debating. local issues ranging from pothole repairs and local planning to public toilets! The challenge forced teams to move funding between essential services, make difficult financial trade offs, and present their final  proposals to the room.

The event sparked amazing energy and collaborative debate throughout the session, bringing young people together to make new connections while experiencing the complexities of high level budget decisions. Thank you to St Helen and St Katharine for hosting the event.