Lead the Young Greens - Stand for election!
The Young Greens will have a vital role to play in shaping politics across England and Wales. Could you stand to lead our movement?
InFORMATION FOR ALL CANDIDATES
In this section:
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Internal Elections Timeline
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Roles available
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Campaigning Rules
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Role descriptions for Executive Committee, Structures and Procedures Committee and Green Students Committee
1. Internal elections timeline:
21st May - Nominations open for all roles
3rd July - Voting opens / Live video hustings
18th July - Voting closes / Live in-person hustings at Convention / Results announced
2. Roles available:
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Executive Committee:
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Young Greens Co-chair (x2)
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Treasurer
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Green Students Committee Co-convenors (x2)
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Elections Officer
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Digital Communications Officer
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Press Officer
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Campaigns Officer
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Events Officer
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International Officer
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Equality and Diversity Officer
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Activist Training and Political Education Officer
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Liberation Officers (from each formerly constituted Liberation Group)
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Under 18s Officer
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Democracy and Accountability Committee:
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DAC Member x 5
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Looking for more information? You can find the role descriptions for each of the above at the bottom of this page! Nominations for these roles will close on 19th June, with the exception of roles which did not receive enough nominations.
3. Campaigning Rules:
These are the rules which govern candidates in the Young Greens Elections 2020. They have been taken from the Standing Orders, and have been expanded on by Chair of the Democracy and Accountability Committee, Isaac Searle. For more information, you can contact the Electoral Returning Officer, [NAME] at ero2020@younggreens.org.uk
Section 1: Campaigning
1.1 Candidates must only begin campaigning after the close of nominations, on 19/07/2020 at 0:00. They and their supporters are accountable to these rules from the opening of the nominations period.
1.2 Candidates and their supporters may use any method to canvass for support (providing it does not contravene the rules listed in this document).
1.3 These rules apply to candidates and their supporters (hereafter ‘Campaigns’).
1.4 Campaigns will be treated equitably by the Young Greens.
1.5 All candidates are entitled to the statement being published on the Young Greens website and circulated by email to the membership.
1.6 Any campaign materials distributed online should bear the following imprint, written in at least an 8 point typeface: “Promoted and Produced by [Candidate name] as part of their campaign for election to the post of [position]. This is not an official communication from the Young Greens.”
1.7 Campaigns will not be allowed to use the Green Party or Young Greens logos on their campaign materials.
1.8 Candidates will be considered joint candidates if they openly declare that they are joint candidates, use the same campaign teams, or publish joint campaign materials.
1.9 Campaigns may not make any untrue or misleading statements in campaign materials, nor may candidates during hustings.
Section 2: Funding
2.1 Campaigns must not exceed the spending limit of £30 during the election campaign.
2.2 At least 50% of campaign expenditure will be reimbursed providing candidates complete an expenses form and provide it to the Young Greens Treasurer and ERO within 30 days of the election announcement.
2.3 The same amount will be reimbursed to each candidate running for any one role.
2.4 Joint candidates, as defined in 1.8 above, shall share the same spending limit as single candidates i.e. £30.
Section 3: Use of Young Greens Channels
3.1 Campaigns must not use contact information gained through a role within the Young Greens or Green Party of England & Wales to canvass for support.
3.2 Campaigns with a Young Greens email address must not use this during their campaign.
3.3 Campaigns with access to social media channels in the name of the Young Greens (including those of affiliated groups) must not use this to promote their campaign.
3.4 If moderating any Facebook groups in the name of the Young Greens (including those of affiliated groups) campaigns must not moderate any posts concerning the election.
3.5 During the campaign period, the ERO and Deputy ERO will approve campaigns posts in the Young Greens group. Any candidates with moderator access must inform the ERO and Deputy ERO before posting.
Section 4: Negative Campaigning
4.1 Negative campaigning is strictly prohibited and campaigns must focus on the benefits of a candidate.
4.2 Bribery, coercion and mistreating of members is strictly forbidden.
Section 5: Breaches of these rules
5.1 Any member, regardless of candidate status, can report a suspected breach of these rules to the Electoral Returning Officer in the case of electoral breaches, or Young Greens Staff where they feel this to be inappropriate.
5.2 Any suspected electoral breach of these rules will be investigated by the Electoral Returning Officer and the Democracy and Accountability Commitee who will have the following options open to them:
5.2.1 Suspension from the election pending investigation
5.2.2 Expulsion from the election
5.3 For any other breaches e.g. of the Young Greens Constitution, the Democracy and Accountability can investigate and take action to remove candidates from the election, prior to then reporting the breaches through the Complaints and Disputes Procedure.
5.4 Campaigns are reminded of section 3.9 of the Green Party of England and Wales code of conduct relating to disclosure of anything in their personal history that could potentially bring the Party into disrepute.
4. Role descriptions:
For all of the roles below, you will need to two co-proposers.
Young Greens Co-Chair
Hours: Between 4-12 a week
Positions: 2 available
Eligibility: Due to gender balancing quotas, 1 position is reserved for someone that does not self-define as a man.
Responsibilities:
The Co-Chairs of the Young Greens coordinate and support the Young Greens Executive Committee, leading on team strategy and priorities as mandated by the membership, and act as key spokespeople for the organisation. This involves:
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Acting as a key spokesperson for the Young Greens, including at public events and in the media
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Representing the Young Greens on the Green Party Executive (GPEx) at meetings every six weeks
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Working with the Green Party staff team to ensure support is available to the Young Greens
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Chairing regular meetings and away days with the Young Greens Executive Committee
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Coordinating and overseeing the Young Greens Executive Committee team strategy and supporting individual officers to ensure they are able to achieve their goals
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Working closely with Liberation Groups and Green Students Committee to ensure these groups are able to input into organisational and political strategies, and deliver impact on the ground
General Committee Responsibilities:
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Chairing and preparing Executive Committee fortnightly meetings (online) and away days and residentials less regularly
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Contributing to email and chat discussions between the committee meetings
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Responding to emails from members
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Providing a monthly report to the membership and attend a Quarterly Q&A
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Providing two biannual reports to the membership
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Contributing to Young Greens communications
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Adhering to the Code of Conduct agreed by the committee
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Supporting other members of the committee with their portfolios where they can
Treasurer
Hours: Between 4-10 a week
Positions: 1 available
Responsibilities:
As the primary budget holder for the Young Greens, this role has the responsibility to ensure the financial stability of the Young Greens, alongside the Executive Committee as a whole. Responsibilities thus include:
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Devising a fundraising strategy and activities to support the financial growth of the Young Greens.
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Helping to deliver fundraising appeals to finance our programmes and phone rounds to build up the monthly income of the Young Greens
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Producing budgets for the Young Greens.
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Signing off on expenses.
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Providing financial reports where necessary.
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Working closely with Green Party finance staff.
General Committee Responsibilities:
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Attending Executive Committee fortnightly meetings (online) and away days and residentials less regularly
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Contributing to email and chat discussions between the committee meetings
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Responding to emails from members
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Providing a monthly report to the membership and attend a Quarterly Q&A
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Providing two biannual reports to the membership
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Contributing to Young Greens communications
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Adhering to the Code of Conduct agreed by the committee
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Supporting other members of the committee with their portfolios where they can
Green Students Campaign Committee Co-convenor
Hours: Between 0-2 a week, heavier during periods with events
Positions: 2 available, 1 reserved for a person who does not define as a man
Responsibilities:
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Organise and chair meetings of the Green Students Campaign Committee
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Ensure the Young Greens have a presence at external student-related events
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Help to ensure Young Greens are standing for election and organising effectively in the National Union of Students and within individual Student Unions
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Help to coordinate close and strategic working with progressive student movements
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Working with the Young Greens Executive Committee to support and train Young Green student groups across England and Wales
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Help to lead our campaigns on student-specific issues
DELETE: Non-Portfolio Officer
Hours: Between 4-10 a week
Positions: 6 available
Eligibility: Due to gender balancing quotas, some positions are reserved for individuals that do not self-define as a man. The number of reserved spaces will be allocated in a way that after the election of Co-chairs and Treasurer, the Executive Committee does not consist of more than 50% of individuals that do no self-define as men.
Responsibilities:
As Non-Portfolio officer, you’ll be able to choose your own portfolio once elected. It’s a good idea to hint what you’d be interested in doing during your election campaign however, so people know why you’re standing and what you’d like to bring to the team. Over the years, our non-portfolio officers have taken on roles such as:
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Elections Officer - Setting and delivering a strategy for how we can campaign to get Young Greens elected, and mobilise young people from all across England and Wales to get involved in local and national election campaigns
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Membership Officer - Generating plans to recruit and retain members, including managing regular emails to the membership, phone rounds, and social media campaigns to help get members involved
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Social Media Officer - Setting the strategy for our social media channels, creating dynamic content, delivering messaging plans and managing our channels on a day to day basis
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Campaigns Officer - Working with various stakeholders to develop effective and exciting Young Greens campaigns, and supporting the creation and distribution of resources and training to groups and the membership.
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Events Officer - Coordinating our two annual bi-national events, Young Greens Convention in Spring, and the political mobilising event in Autumn, as well as others tied into the team strategy.
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Press Officer - Setting and delivering a strategy for our press work, including cultivating a broad list of press contacts, sourcing and editing articles from key Young Green activists, and making recommendations for pitching stories, interviews and press coverage tied to the team strategy.
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Societies and Groups Officer - Supporting and coordinating our Young Greens Groups and Societies across England and Wales, including working closely with the Senate, and delivering core skills and activist training throughout the year.
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Policy Officer - Coordinating the development of our Young Greens elections manifestos, supporting policy formation in the Young Greens tied to our campaign priorities and supporting our members to bring policy to Green Party Conference.
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International Officer - Coordinating with the Global Young Greens and Federation of European Young Greens, and supporting cross-border collaboration, campaigns and learning.
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Equality and Diversity Officer - Liaising and working closely with the Young Greens liberation groups (Trans, LGBTQIA+, People of Colour, Women of Colour, Sex Workers, Disability, Women & Under 18), in order to ensure our movement is as diverse and as accessible as possible.
General Committee Responsibilities:
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Attending fortnightly meetings (online) and away days and residentials less regularly
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Contributing to email and chat discussions between the committee meetings
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Responding to emails from members
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Providing a monthly report to the membership and attend a Quarterly Q&A
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Providing two biannual reports to the membership
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Contributing to Young Greens communications
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Adhering to the Code of Conduct agreed by the committee
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Supporting other members of the committee with their portfolios where they can
Democracy and Accountability Committee member (DAC)
Hours: Between 2-10 a week, and heavier during the internal elections period
Positions: 5 available (DAC Members will decide between themselves an DAC Chair)
Eligibility: Due to gender balancing quotas of this committee, we will be electing at least 2 people that do not self-define as a man.
Responsibilities
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Upholds the constitution and makes rulings
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Makes clarifications and minor edits to the constitution
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Organises elections within the Young Greens
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Oversees Young Greens Complaints processes
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Ensures that elected members are held to account
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Responding to emails and democracy related queries from members
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Adhering to the Code of Conduct agreed by the committee
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(Chair:) Organise and chair meetings of the Democracy and Accountability Committee
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(Chair:) Attend Young Greens Executive Committee calls where necessary