Purple monkey idea counters stereotypes

PURPLE monkey initiative challenges stereotypes: (l-r) youth councillors Leah Parr, Jake Lockwood, T-Jay Turner (a Member of the Youth Parliament), Nathan Wright and Katie Darlington

OLDHAM Youth Council is aiming to boost self-esteem and confidence among young people with a campaign of good deeds - and a purple monkey.

Councillors at the senior Oldham Council meeting this week backed the “I Love Me” campaign.

A youth council report says: “We can show the world what Oldham’s young people are doing to help raise not only their own self-esteem but also the self-esteem of others in the borough.”

The campaign will use a purple monkey soft toy to reward good deeds. Participants do a good deed, take a “selfie” - a self-portrait - with the person they help and the purple monkey, then pass the monkey on as a symbol of the next good deed.

The selfie can be posted on Twitter — @OldhamYC — or emailed to oldhamyouthcouncil@oldham.gov.uk.

The youth council has made 15 purple monkeys. The idea comes from the phrase “Purple Monkey Dishwasher” used in a Simpsons TV episode and which has become a common watchword for mistrust of hearsay and rumours. In this case the youth council hopes young people will spread good deeds instead.

Full council members unanimously praised the scheme