Many local authorities have addressed the issue of enhancing the access of all. A range of potential initiatives and sources of information about them are listed in Box 12. Beyond individual initiatives there is an argument for each authority to consider the potential role of community development and youth work in supporting and enabling the involvement of a wider range of people. Resource centres and other support networks can provide part of the infrastructure necessary for groups of people to organise and make their views known. There is also the potential of 'citizenship education' to consider.
Many local authorities have initiatives targeted at young people and schools.
The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has established a committee to investigate the potential of educating for citizenship within schools. Some local authorities have pioneered resource packs and developed links with schools inviting groups of young people into the council for 'mock' elections or set piece debates. A growing number of authorites have established youth councils made up of elected representatives from schools in their area.