Islington's young leaders ready to promote the Youth Council's new priorities

**To download high-resolution images click on the photos to the left ** Captions:

Islington Youth Council 2018, including Young Mayor Honey Baker (front row, centre)

(L-R) Abubakar Finiin, Islington Deputy Young Mayor; Honey Baker, Young Mayor; Isabella Wolday, Member for Youth Parliament for Islington

Islington’s new young leaders have been elected and are ready to speak up for young people across the borough on the issues that matter to them most.

Honey Baker has become the new Young Mayor, Abubakar Finiin is taking the role of Deputy Young Mayor, and Isabella Wolday has been elected as the Member for Youth Parliament for Islington.

The trio were elected by their fellow youth councillors and will hold their posts for one year. During this time, they will be responsible for representing the Youth Council at regional young mayor and youth parliament meetings, as well as civic events and awards ceremonies.

Young Mayor Honey, who is the first youth councillor to be re-elected, said: “I really wanted to be elected Young Mayor, so I’m so pleased to have got it. I’ve followed in the footsteps of Diana and Darey (the previous Young Mayor and Deputy Young Mayor) and so I feel prepared and ready to take it on.

“I want to focus my time as Young Mayor on promoting sport and getting more coaches into schools. Sport is really important for giving young people opportunities.”

Cllr Joe Caluori, Islington Council’s executive member for children, young people and families, said: “I’d like to congratulate Honey, Abubakar and Isabella on their roles and wish them, and the rest of the youth councillors, an interesting time over the next two years.

“Young people are the future of Islington, and it is important that we seek their input to help make Islington a fairer place. Our youth councillors play a significant role in local democracy and decision-making and we value their contributions.”

For the next two years, the Youth Council will work on four key priorities:

#StayingSafe – supporting Islington’s Youth Crime Plan, creating awareness of how young people can stay safe online, and listening to the views of young people about safety in the community.

#BeingHealthy – promoting a wide range of fun physical activities that are open to all young people, creating awareness of how young people can deal with stress, and helping to make sure mental health services are accessible and meet the needs of young people.

#OurFreeTime – promoting opportunities for young people to socialise and make sure young people have a say on new and existing community spaces.

#FutureReady – advocate on the introduction of at least 100 hours’ experience of the world of work for young people, promote apprenticeships and jobs for young people, and increase opportunities for young people to learn life skills, like money management, first aid, and housing, in their education and free-time activities.

Youth councillors are responsible for making sure the opinions of young people in Islington are heard by campaigning for the needs and interests of their young electorate. The youth councillors also work with council officers and elected councillors in Islington to ensure young people have a key role in planning, designing, delivering and reviewing services.

Find out more about Islington Youth Council at izzy-info.com, or follow them on Facebook.com/IslingtonYC or Twitter @IslingtonYC

For further information please contact:
Chris Roe, Media Manager
Tel: 020 7527 8751
Alternative contact - Media team: 020 7527 2307
Out of hours: 07769 163303
Email: chris.roe@islington.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter @IslingtonBC and @IslingtonLife