CYP Now - The political energy of our young people

It’s not often that I feel energised and inspired on a wet Monday night in February, but that was exactly how I was left feeling recently after watching the results of Derby’s Youth Mayor elections.

Derby's youth mayor candidates pictured at a hustings in December. Picture: Derby City Council

I think everyone there was also buoyed along with the novelty of the event taking place in person, something that hasn’t happened for a couple of years but led to everyone riding the wave of the energy in the room.

Get this statistic – almost 11,000 students across 19 schools voted in the elections for the next Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor for the city.

From members of Derby’s 40 plus Youth Council selecting four candidates, following the hustings, the campaigns that then ensued, to the vote and the results on the night, all highlight how young people want to make a tangible difference to their city and communities. The work the outgoing Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor have done, such as on matters to do with the environment and climate change, is equally impressive with evidence of impact.

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