6 September 2007
The first Citizens Jury, a new consultation initiative announced by the Prime Minister on Monday, has met in Bristol.
The forum took place in the £24 million Bristol Brunel Academy, opened today by the Prime Minister, and focused on the issue of education and children’s services. Gordon Brown and Children’s Secretary Ed Balls joined a diverse panel consisting of students, parents, teachers and community leaders.
Watch a film of the event in:
Announcing the Citizens Jury initiative in a speech on Monday, the PM said he wished to harness the "experience and wisdom" of the British people and develop "new ways and means" of bringing citizens together.
He said:
"The first Citizens Jury will be held later this week on issues related to children, how to ensure that every child can be safe, secure, successful at school; how parents can get the advice and support they need as they try to bring up their children; how we can ensure that our education system for every child reaches the highest standards.
"Participants will be given facts and figures that are independently verified, they can look at real issues and solutions, just as a jury examines a case. And where these citizens juries are held the intention is to bring people together to explore where common ground exists."
The event was the first of several comprising an overall debate titled Our Children - Time to Talk. More discussions will take place around the country on 29 September and nine regional focus groups will be set up consisting solely of children.
Further Citizens Juries will take place on issues such as crime and communities and the future of the National Health Service.
Image copyright: Reuters
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