Youth Council in a call to action

BUDDING politicians are invited to share their future visions for the borough and win the chance to become the decision-makers of tomorrow.

Anyone aged 11-21 who lives, works or studies in Oldham is eligible to become part of the Youth Council, and manifestos are due in by Friday.

The elections are bankrolled through the Government’s Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF), part of the Aiming High for Young People strategy that strives to give youngsters safe places to go and interesting things to do.

Liam Turner, chair of the Youth Council, said: “Being on the Youth Council has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

“I have achieved so much personally and as a group.

“It gives me a great sense of achievement to know that as a youth councillor I am contributing to Oldham’s success on behalf of all Oldham young people.”

Members of the Youth Council find out what matters to young people across Oldham and campaign on their behalf, regularly holding meetings with local councillors and representatives of other organisations to try and affect change for the benefit of everyone.

Youth Council member Chantel Birtwistle (18), who attends Our Lady’s Sixth-Form in Royton, said: “We recently met with GMPTE to try and bring down bus fares for teenagers and we are also getting information out on support groups for young people with mental illness after young people told us mental illness is an important issue for them.

“We take lots of training courses in things like leadership, how to do presentations, public speaking and how to organise a campaign.

“This means not only are we well equipped to represent other young people, but we are ahead of the game when we are looking at future careers and jobs.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for anyone who wants to give it a try.”

Members of the Youth Council also help to decide how to award grants from the Youth Opportunity Fund, they edit OYWEB, Oldham’s one and only youth website, and organise a number of events throughout the year as well as going on residentials and trips.

The Youth Council will be electing around 30 people this year with the remainder of the council consisting of young people who are co-opted to represent particular groups, such as the young disabled community and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and other councillors staying on for a second term to pass on their experience to new members.

Manifestos, which should include information on why people feel they would make good youth councillors and why people should vote for them in no more than 200 words, should be sent to jodie.barber@oldham.gov.uk by Friday.

These will then be uploaded on to the voting site at http://oldham.ballot-box.co.uk with young people being able to vote from March 17 for two weeks.

Potential candidates are asked to include their full name, date of birth, address and postcode, contact telephone number and contact email, although these details won’t be published on the website.