Young Mayor 4 Lewisham
The Young Mayor has responsibilities as well as status. She has a budget of at least £25,000 to spend on projects which she feels are important to young people in Lewisham. She has access to the Lewisham Mayor – Steve Bullock – and to senior council officers to advise them on the concerns of Young People. Throughout the year, she will attend community events and will talk to the media in her own right or as the council’s representative.
The current Young Mayor is Siobhan, who was elected in October 2006 after a ballot held across the borough.
Being young mayor is a great experience. It opens up lots of new opportunities including meeting new people, being involved in new ideas and activities and having responsibility for influencing decisions on behalf of other young people. It has opened up my eyes that anyone can do it and I’ll be doing more volunteering in the future as a result of my time as Young Mayor.
Before I became Young Mayor, didn’t understand voting and being young mayor has made me more able to make decisions and to help people.
I think it’s so important to be giving young people a say and letting them know that they do have a say.
I’ve met people with power, the one I remember most is Ken Livingstone. It shows you the link the Young Mayor has with all the other things going on because I was able to say what I really thought and felt and want to change and he listened to me. It felt good and showed me that what I say matters.
I didn’t think of the outcome when I ran for Young Mayor, I just campaigned and winning has made me realise that anyone can do it. Although there’s different statuses of people in the Young Advisors (like the Young Mayor and deputy) everyone has an equal say and without them it would be hard to make decisions.
Now I’ve been young mayor I’ll do more volunteering work, I didn’t really do any before but I found that I enjoy it and I want to do more.
Siobhan Bell. 22 Aug 2007
27 November, 2006
The past couple of months have been hectic and great!! I’ve met more people than ever before, from all different walks of life, and have hardly stopped for a second. Last week I met Ken Livingstone with Luziane. I asked him about his job, and how independent he could be when he made decisions. Ie whether he always had to take other people into consideration when he did something. He said that generally he always believed in his decisions, and that they had never gone against what other people wanted – but it was important to have a balance.
Last Saturday I gave out awards at a ceremony for young people leaving their care homes, who were going back into their communities. These people were just like you and me, and all had come from in and around Lewisham.
The best things so far about being Yong Mayor are the opportunities to meet so many different people, from famous politicians to people on the street. Now I want to concentrate on what I want to achieve over the year. I especially want to look at young people who leave home early, and how to help them.
Young Mayor and Deputy Young Mayor meet Ken Livingstone
In mid-Novemeber Siobhan and Luzianne went to visit London Mayor Ken Livingstone in his office. They conveyed their ideas for the youth of London, and gave him a unique insight into the issues affecting all young people in London, and Lewisham in particular.
Make Mine Music at Lewisham's Childcare fair
What was it that attracted almost 600 visitors to Lewisham’s tenth childcare jobs and training fair on 15 November? Was it the music provided by DJ Gallis at this major event that was tightly packed into two large floors of the Town Hall Civic Suite in Catford? Perhaps it was the support offered by Lewisham’s first female Young Mayor, Siobhan Bell, who chose to open the fair as her first official function?
For the full story, click here
You can contact Siobhan in the following ways:.............................
Via Malcolm Ball (Advisor to the Young Mayor) : By Post: |
or: |
"My name is Siobhan Bell. I am standing because I feel that as a young person I will be a connection between young people and can provide a platform for young people to communicate their concerns and ideas throughout Lewisham. By doing so I hope to make positive, constructive and long lasting changes within the borough. Such as changes with the environment, health and education, and homeless issues. Also introducing workshops on sexual health, drugs or anger management. Events where young people can express their talents or more places where young people can “hang out” instead of being on the streets. More support is needed to be given to young people who are homeless and who need help with funds or managing school.
It is important to let people have new ideas and make their opinions heard. This could be shared through newsletters. I will also visit schools to show an interest in other students.
I believe I’m the best person for the job, as I love to listen and would like to be
the first female to be successful as Young Mayor as well as bringing a new voice to Lewisham."
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