Chief Executive, Anne Longfield, said: “Increasingly, young people are feeling isolated from society and from their local communities. A consequence, as we all know, has been an increase in anti-social behaviour and juvenile crime. Instead of listening to their needs and giving them a voice, young people are demonised by the media and society. Young people need to feel their contribution is valued and they need to know their views and opinions are being listened to. Establishing a young mayoral system in every local authority throughout the UK would be an extremely effective way of providing young people with a platform to express their views as well as the motivation to engage with the political and democratic process.”

As evidence, 4Children cites last week’s 43 per cent turn out to elect the new Young Mayor of Lewisham. Local authority officials and MPs in the London Borough of Lewisham are reported to be delighted, if not overwhelmed, by the level and extent of interest shown by young people in the Borough.

Lewisham has the country’s only directly elected Young Mayor which was started in 2004 by Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham. The Young Mayor is supported by a dedicated Young Advisory Group with members being drawn from a variety of community and young people’s groups. Together, the Young Mayor and Advisory Group have a chance to influence and advise the fellow Mayor and Cabinet. A budget of £25,000 is available to spend on priorities chosen by young people themselves which have so far included art, music and community events. Any person between the ages of 11 and 17 who lives, works or studies in the borough of Lewisham can stand as a candidate for Young Mayor and any person aged between 11 and 18 is able to vote.

Carlisle City Council is the only other local authority to have a young mayor. Elections were held for the first time in 2002 but candidacy is only open to Year 6 pupils. The City is electing its fifth Young Mayor today.

Middlesbrough Council was the first local authority in the UK to establish a young mayor when it held elections in April 2002. However, the post was only maintained for one year and no longer exists.

4Children has been campaigning for many years for children and young people to be given a voice in matters that affect them. According to a recent 4Children survey, only 45 per cent of children feel that adults listen to their opinions and views about what they want. 76 per cent think that it would make their lives better if they were treated with respect and 75 per cent said they wanted adults to pay more attention to what they have to say.

This summer, 4Children, launched a one year national inquiry into the services offered to young people in this country. The Make Space Youth Review, supported by the Nestlé Trust, is running for a period of twelve months and considering the future needs of young people. The Make Space Youth Review Panel is seeking views from a wide cross section of the population: from Government and policy makers, to community leaders, parents and young people. Co-chaired by campaigner Oona King and the former Young Mayor of Lewisham, 15-year-old Wilf Petherbridge, the Panel is composed of policy advisers, professionals who work with communities, families and young people, academics, as well as young people themselves. It will report back in July 2007 with clear conclusions and recommendations for future action.

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