WIREDGOV

Take it to the Top: Young people to pitch ideas to Cabinet

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 30 October 2009

Young people are being given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tell the country’s most powerful politicians their ideas about what could make a real difference to their communities.

Bebo’s Big Think - Take Your Ideas to the Top is looking for young people to put forward innovative and practical suggestions on how to make a positive difference on crime, careers and climate change. The nationwide online competition is being hosted on social-networking website Bebo.

The people behind the top six ideas will be invited to London to pitch their ideas to a celebrity panel, including record-breaking mountaineer Jake Meyer and Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Olympics, Tessa Jowell. The panel will then pick three winners who will be invited to present their suggestions to Cabinet Members the next day.

A host of inspiring mentors has been lined up to give the finalists all the tips they might need to perfect their presentations before they go before the panel and Cabinet Ministers.

So far Henry Bonsu, co-founder of Colourful Radio, columnist Lindsay Johns, who volunteers as a mentor in Peckham and Colleen Harris, the former group director of communications for the Equalities and Human Rights Commission have all signed up, with more to follow.

Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Olympics Tessa Jowell said:

"This competition is the opportunity of a lifetime for young people to get really engaged with the democratic process and make a difference on the issues that really matter to them. I am looking forward to seeing some of the exciting and innovative ideas they come up with.”

Jake Meyer, the youngest person to have ever climbed the highest mountain on every continent – the Seven Summits - said:

“As well as being passionate about the outdoors, adventure and the environment, it’s also trying to motivate and inspire other young people that really drives me. This is a great initiative that gives young people the chance to make a real difference. I can’t wait to hear some of the ideas!”

Notes to editors

Since Bebo’s Big Think was launched in July 2009:

• More than 150,000 young people with an average age of 16-24 from all walks of life, have viewed Bebo’s Big Think campaign

• 20,000 have commented or participated in polls

• Five young people won the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister in a competition in July, with the event (hosted by T4's presenter Rick Edwards (Channel 4)) videoed and posted online (to view the live debate visit - http://www.bebo.com/c/video?FlashBoxId=9704909599 & Bebo is a popular and successful social networking site for young people in the UK with over 8 million subscribers.

Since Bebo’s Big Think was launched in July 2009 it has offered young people an independent youth-led online forum to discuss their views on the future of Britain as part of the Building Britain's Future conversation: http://www.hmg.gov.uk/buildingbritainsfuture.aspx

Bebo’s Big Think - Take your Ideas to the Top is a competition offering six young people the chance to have their ideas heard by the people at the very top of Government. The competition launches on October 30 and closes on 15 November for UK residents (including the Channel Islands and Isle of Mann) between the ages of 16 and 24. The six finalists will be invited to a session on 30 November where they will pitch their ideas to a panel of experts and celebrities chaired by Minister for the Cabinet Office and Olympics, Tessa Jowell. The three winners will then go on to present their ideas to Cabinet Ministers on 1st December, with the possibility of departmental support to help the young people move their ideas forward.
For more information, visit: http://www.bebo.com/bigthink

More celebrity panellists will be announced in the coming weeks.

Cabinet Office Press Office 22 Whitehall LONDON SW1A 2WH
Tel: 020 7276 0436 – Fax: 020 7276 1146
Out of hours telephone 07699 113300 and ask for pager number 721338

Contacts:

Cabinet Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7276 1273
Fax: 020 7276 0618
NDS.cabinetoffice@coi.gsi.gov.uk