Milton Keynes Council are on the search for a Youth Mayor after councillors unanimously voted to create the new role to encourage young people to get more involved in local democracy.
The Youth Mayor will be elected by the Youth Cabinet, which is made up of 36 local young people.
Appointed for a one-year term, the Youth Mayor will represent the young people of the area at civic events, including accompanying the Mayor of Milton Keynes to some engagements.
At the full council meeting, councillors also approved the development of a youth democracy agenda and the possibility of creating the role of a Youth Democracy Champion.
Over 14,000 local young people voted in the Youth Cabinet elections in 2019 and the group have been recognised for their efforts in campaigning on public safety and encouraging young people to vote.
The Youth Cabinet enables young people to use their energy and passion to change Milton Keynes for the better and provides opportunities for 11–18-year-olds to use their voice in creative ways to bring about social change.
Commenting, Mayor of Milton Keynes, Mohammed Khan said:
“I’m immensely proud that we’re giving even more power to our young people who are often unrepresented to become involved with local democracy. Like many other councillors, having a Youth Mayor is something I’ve campaigned on for a long time.
“My thanks go out to all councillors who were involved with the process and voted for it. It’s an important step for young people in MK and I look forward to working with them more closely.”
PSE will be hosting a Learning & Development virtual event on 3 February 2022. Join us for the full day event by registering here.
