New Young Leaders join programme

Charlotte Rapier, Ellen Marsh and Riley Heard, our new young leaders

Three young people have signed up to join the council's next Young Leaders programme.

Over the next year, Charlotte Rapier, Ellen Marsh and Riley Heard will work with council teams, shadow elected members, attend council meetings and support the youth forum.

The initiative offers Torfaen Youth Forum members the opportunity to continue learning about local government and gain leadership experience after they leave secondary school.

Charlotte said: “It will be great to be able to continue to support the Torfaen Youth Forum and to be part of Torfaen Council."

Riley added: “I feel like this is a great opportunity to be more involved with local democracy and the council."

Last month, Boyd Paynter, from Blaenavon, and Corban Edwards, from Cwmbran, became the first Young Leaders to complete the programme.

Boyd said: "The Young Leaders programme is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved with local democracy and youth representation."

Philip Wilson, the council's children and young people's participation officer, said: "We are incredibly proud of what Boyd and Corban have achieved during the first year of the Young Leaders Programme.

"They and the other young people we work represent the views of their peers with passion and commitment and make an important contribution to local democracy.

"It's been a busy summer for young people's participation in Torfaen and I look forward to working with all our young representatives and schools over the next academic year."

In August, Torfaen's new Member of Youth Parliament Rae Carter travelled to Hull with other Welsh MYPs to take part in their annual conference.

Rae, who is also a youth forum member, said: "It’s a great opportunity that I think every young person should have the chance to do."

A Children's Commissioner for Wales report into participation levels highlighted the council's annual Takeover Days as a good example of how the council has made itself accountable to young people.

The next annual Takeover Day will be held on Tuesday January 12. The event is open to all secondary school pupils and job adverts will be sent to schools before Christmas. pupils.

The Torfaen Youth Forum, which is also open to all secondary school pupils, will reconvene in September, with the Torfaen Youth Alliance, which is open to young people aged 11-25, will meet in November.

For more information about young people's participation, contact philip.wilson@torfaen.gov.uk