More about the Youth Council

The Young Mayor and Youth Council have real power and influence over local services. They are responsible for distributing over £1.5m of money from the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds. This money is spent on local activities and facilities for Newham's young people.

The Young Mayor, Deputy Young Mayor and 13 election runners-up form the Youth Council. They are joined by democratically elected representatives from each student council and special interest groups.

The Youth Council represent young people in the borough to the Mayor, Councillors and other senior decision makers. They help the Young Mayor to deliver their election promises by providing advice and support at regular meetings and campaigning activities throughout the year.

Through consulting with young people in the borough, they ensure everyone's voice is heard. The Youth Council initiates projects and campaigns, as well as advising Councillors and Officers on issues that affect young people locally.


A real local impact

• The Youth Council guides the allocation of the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds worth £400,000.
  
  
• Through local campaigning and advice to decision makers in the Local Authority, Youth Councillors help to direct over £490m of Council investment in Children and Young People's Services.
  
  
• The Young Mayor and Youth Council has strengthened relations between young people and the Police, creating links between the Youth Council and the Crime Reduction Team, local Councillors and the Community Police Forum.
  
  
• The Young Mayor and Youth Council's campaigns have raised the profile of environmental sustainability in the borough, particularly around recycling, energy use and local parks.
  
  
• The Young Mayor and Youth Council have led the campaign to ensure that all the Olympic and Paralympic venues are available free of charge to local young people after the Games. They also helped design the Aquatics Centre.