On Monday 5 October 2026, Torridge District Council hosted a Democracy event for year 6 students at East-the-Water Primary School, to give them a feel for how democracy works on a day-to-day basis.
The interactive session invited students to give their thoughts on Bideford and the future of the Town Centre. Through a series of group tasks involving mind mapping and a democratic voting session using real life polling booths and ballot boxes, the year 6s were encouraged to think about what makes Bideford a great place to live and their own priorities for its future.
The activity sparked a range of engaging discussions amongst students, each contributing their unique perspective and insights on the matter. All the students showed a fantastic level of enthusiasm and had interesting ideas about how the town could be improved.
The mind maps and suggestions generated by the students will be shared with the Bideford Regeneration Board – so there’s every chance that some of these ideas and proposals could become a reality.
Councillor Jude Gubb, Torridge Councillor for Bideford East, said:
“The enthusiasm, confidence and thoughtful ideas shown by the pupils were truly inspiring! They demonstrated a real passion for the local community and their future – events like this truly highlight why it is so important that we listen to and engage with young people.”
Sean Matthews, Subject Lead at East-the-Water Primary School, said:
“The democracy workshop was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 6 pupils to understand the important role of our local council and to think about the future of Bideford. They were all so engaged and inspired, and it was fantastic to see them realise that they have a role to play in shaping the future of their own community.”
