About Us

“Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Local Democracy Week 2010 is being celebrated in cities all over the country in various ways from Monday 11th to Sunday 17th October 2010; Leicester Speaks is Leicester’s own unique way of not only marking Local Democracy Week, but also to make a real difference to Leicester and the people who live here.  A steering committee representing a broad cross-section of the local community was established over the summer of 2010 working with the Speakers’ Corner Trust (SCT) on the development of the initiative which is thought to be the most ambitious programme ever mounted to mark the annual Local Democracy Week in the UK.

Leicester Speaks Is Born

Based on the famous Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, London, Leicester Speaks is an opportunity for individuals, communities and groups within the City of Leicester to take part in a series of discussions that are relevant to them.  The Leicester Speaks steering committee worked with local partners including public services, the education sector, voluntary organisations, community groups and the business sector to help Leicester to speak.

“We want to create a platform for all of Leicester’s communities, right in the heart of our city centre as well as in the places where people live. What’s important is that people have the opportunity to speak their minds.”

Joint Chair of Leicester Speaks, John Coster

 

The main aims of Leicester Speaks:

1. Involve as wide as possible a cross-section of Leicester’s communities in the discussion and debate of a range of issues of importance to them.

2. Provide platforms for sectors of Leicester’s community which are seldom heard.

3. Create opportunities for constructive engagement between the public and local policy markers and decision takers.

“Leicester is a great free-thinking, open-minded, creative city. There are many people – from different backgrounds and of different faiths and cultures – but there is one Leicester community. And its people are strong-willed, straight-talking but always generous. That’s what makes this such a great place. I’m proud that we’ve been able to help with so many other local partners to mark Local Democracy Week by creating opportunities for Leicester people to come together to discuss what really matters to them. This is a celebration of all the best that Leicester has to offer.”

Leicester City Council Leader Veejay Patel

 

Speakers Corner

As well as having more than 30 events held throughout the city, a mobile Speakers’ Corner toured residential neighbourhoods during the week to give local people the chance to speak their minds:

www.youtube.com/leicesterspeaks/speakerscorner

“Local democracy is about local people and we want to give them the opportunity to express their ideas and opinions right from the start of our programme and to celebrate all the wisdom, energy and goodwill the Leicester community has to offer. But this initiative is also about listening and we plan to organise another event in a few weeks time so that people can see how the decision-makers have responded to the issues they’ve raised.”

Leicester Speaks Joint Chair, George Ballentyne

 

Leicester Listens

The steering group is organising a feedback called “Leicester Listens” as an opportunity for decision takers in the city to respond to some of the issues raised during Leicester Speaks.  Leicester Listens is due to take place sometime in November 2010.  Dates are yet to be confirmed.

Leicester Speaks was coordinated by A Partnership of Leicester Groups and Organisations.