We’re the town’s future

Oldham Youth Council members in Council Chamber.

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ENGAGE us - and let us help shape the future of the town - is Oldham Youth Council’s demand this week.

At Wednesday’s council meeting members of the Youth Council will call on all political parties to write manifestos outlining their values and beliefs in youth-orientated areas of concern.

The motion — to be moved by 18-year-old Mariam Waseem — calls for councillors to encourage a move away from youthful political apathy in the run up to the May 2015 elections.

Mariam said: “The young people I know feel passionately about this. It is an issue that is really relevant. Young people want to feel they are valued and that our voice can be heard. We always get fantastic support from Oldham Council.”

The motion suggests: “Young people have been identified as the one demographic extremely disengaged from politics. The Youth Council believes political parties in our council should consider creating youth manifestos for the young people of Oldham in the run up to the May 2015 elections.

“Engage us: it would enable the young people of Oldham to understand how each political party plans to make their lives and the society we live in a better place.”

The council notes the Green Party is currently the only political party to have a youth manifesto - and has a 3,000-strong young greens membership

Wednesday’s motion is part of the League of Young Voters campaign which aims to revive voting uptake for 18 to 24-year-olds in Oldham.

The youth council’s motion concludess: “Young people are the future of democracy. If we don’t take an interest now, where does this leave our democratic process in 20 years?”


Council leader Jim McMahon and councillors Amanda Chadderton and Shaid Mushtaq have visited Oldham College to talk to students about getting involved in local issues.

The councillors also engaged students in a question and answer session about a range of local interests from jobs to transport to the treatment of children with disabilities to mark Local Democracy Week.

Oldham College student democracy officer, Dianne Miller, hosted the event and was pleased with how well the meeting went.

She said: “Democracy is important at Oldham College and this discussion will help students realise how to transfer what they have learned here into later life.”