The 52 successful candidates – who attend schools across the city – were officially announced at a special event in the Council Chamber on Monday night (7 November, 2022).
The Youth Council has been in operation in the city for over 20 years and the skills developed in the group are being passed on and built on, year after year.
The Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE was joined by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Councillor Beverley Momenabadi, Deputy Leader Councillor Stephen Simkins, Executive Director of Families Emma Bennett, Deputy Director of Commissioning and Transformation Andrew Wolverson and other councillors to welcome the new youth councillors.
The event, chaired by Youth Council Chair Tia Patel, provided an opportunity to reflect on some of the Youth Council's recent achievements, including a record turnout in the recent Youth MP elections – the highest in the Midlands – which determined the subjects that the city’s Youth MPs debated in the House of Commons during Parliament Week.
Youth councillors have also helped develop the successful Yo! Wolves programme of activities for young people during the school holidays and contributed to the council's #YES (Youth Engagement Strategy).
Councillor Momenabadi said: "The City of Wolverhampton Council take the views of young people seriously and we are keen to co-produce the development of our services. I and my fellow councillors welcome the level of challenge and scrutiny the Youth Council provides.
“It was a pleasure to meet our new youth councillors and speak to them about what the role of being a councillor involves and we are really looking forward to working with them over the next 12 months."
She added: “Our Youth Council’s reputation goes wider than Wolverhampton and they have again this year been actively involved on national forums, such as shaping policy on emotional wellbeing for young people. Meanwhile, our two Youth MPs, Greg McDonald and L’shae Green, took part in last week’s Youth Parliament Debate at the House of Commons.”
To contact the Youth Council, please email #YES@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
Monday’s event marked the beginning of the national Youth Work Week, an opportunity to celebrate the positive impact the city’s youth work has on young people now, and in the future.
