The Tendring initiative is being spearheaded by Tendring District Youth Council, which is not associated with Tendring District Council, as part of this week's Local Democracy Week. The theme of Local Democracy Week is "Take Part Take Power". The youth mayor, who will be aged between 10 and 16, will be a figurehead for the youth council.
Stephen Mayzes, 22, leader and founder of the youth council, said: "We will have a campaign in an open-top bus during half-term. We thought we would do this as it helps engage young people and encourages them to have an opinion." Young people aged between 10 and 25 will be eligible to vote.
The youth council, which has 18 elected members, was set up two years ago by Mayzes as an alternative to the local council's existing youth council, which he felt was too much of a "policy think-tank". It has a budget of 18,000 a year from the Essex Community Foundation and the Big Lottery Fund. Funding for the youth mayor will come from a 5,000 grant received from the Local Network Fund, which is also being used to fund an intergenerational project to improve the image of young people among the local community.
Last week, 17-year-old Siobhan Bell was elected as Young Mayor of the London Borough of Lewisham, in an election that saw a 43 per cent turnout of 11- to 17-year-old voters, a fall from last year's 47 per cent. She is the borough's third young mayor and has a female deputy, 15-year-old Luziane Tchiegue-Nouta.
Siobhan, who will control a 25,000 budget to spend on youth-orientated schemes, said: "The past two years it has been boys, but now we've got a chance to show we can do the job in a different way. The fact we're Black as well shows people what can be done if you work hard."
