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Community LifeYou are in: London > London Local > Newham > Community Life > The hunt is on for the next Newham Young Mayor  Zuhayb Ahmed hugs his father The hunt is on for the next Newham Young MayorBy Angela Saini Nominations are open for the Young Mayor election 2008. Last year almost 40 per cent of young people turned out to vote in the first election of its kind. The first time the election was run last year, sixteen young mayoral hopefuls and their families waited nervously at Newham Town Hall to hear the results. With 785 votes, 16-year-old Zuhayb Ahmed, a student, was named Newham's first Young Mayor.
As Zuhayb's term of office draws to a close he's been reflecting on his year in the job, "Becoming Young Mayor was a great opportunity that I'd recommend to anyone, although it’s not easy. I had to juggle my personal and professional commitments around the role and there’s immense responsibility in representing the interests of thousands of young people to the Mayor, councillors, businesses and the community. But you're not alone; I had the support of the Youth Council and Deputy Young Mayor Hamid Sheikh. "With such a young and diverse population it’s important to represent everyone’s views and that means getting out and about, meeting young people and listening to their ideas and opinions – it’s not what you want but what’s best for young people in Newham."Zuhayb and wish him all the best for the coming year – I'm sure he'll do a great job.  Last year's candidates. Aspiring candidates, who must be aged from 11 to 18, have until September 19 to get their nomination forms in. If elected they would represent their peers on issues such as education, jobs and crime. Nomination forms have been distributed to secondary schools, colleges, Connexions Shops, libraries and Local Service Centres across Newham. The form plus more information is also available at www.newham.gov.uk/youngmayor or by calling 020 8430 2107. Voting takes place on October 22 and 23 and the results will be announced on October 23 at Newham Town Hall, East Ham. All 14 to 18-year-olds who live work or study in Newham are eligible to vote at schools, colleges and Connexions Points in the borough.
angela.saini@bbc.co.uklast updated: 11/09/2008 at 16:54 SEE ALSOYou are in: London > London Local > Newham > Community Life > The hunt is on for the next Newham Young Mayor |
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