This little chap is a cutie, isn’t he?

He was the star of the email sent to Liberal Youth members kicking off the 2014 Annual Elections for which I am again the Returning Officer.

I don’t know yet how we’re doing but I am really keen for an email from me to beat the open rates of previous sloth emails sent from Liberal youth and, of course, the notorious one featuring Ed Balls.

Being involved in the running of Liberal Youth can be fantastic fun. It’s a long time since I was eligible but I really enjoyed being involved in Scottish SDP Students back in the day. I met friends for life during those years. Others have had the opportunity to head to places like Sri Lanka and Georgia to train young people in those countries.

Whether your interest is making policy, organising conferences and events, working with other liberal youth organisations across the world or building up membership and activity in your local area, there is a job that you could do, so please think about standing. All members of the party under 26, and full-time students are eligible to take part.

You can find a whole list of positions up for election for both Liberal Youth and Liberal Youth England here. If you would like to be a candidate,  I need to have your nomination and your A5 sized manifesto by 8pm on Wednesday 27th August. All should be sent to [email protected]. Voting will open the next week and close on 21st September with the results being announced as soon as possible afterwards.

And while we are on the subject of Liberal Youth, their Activate conference takes place in Cambridge from Thursday 21st until Sunday 24th. It sounds like it’s going to be a brilliant event and you can still register here.  It’s only £30 for the whole conference and you get a shower and a bed. A far cry from the days of sleeping on the floor of the Birmingham University Guild of Students.

And, finally, I’ve just noticed a consultation on priorities for the Youth Parliament which may interest Liberal Youth members.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social