Youth Council elections

by Derrick Okrah

Very soon the Burngreave Youth Council will be able to speak out and give local young people the chance to get their voices heard and take action. On 20th–22nd November Burngreave young people will go to the polls to elect their new Youth Council leaders and you could be a part of this council.

As a young person living in Burngreave, I have seen lots of great changes in the community, but has this been all what we wanted? What about giving young people the opportunity to put forward their views and ideas about what’s happening locally? Now we can do this through the Youth Council.

This could be history in the making for our community, taking young people’s needs into consideration before setting plans and making decisions about resources.

If you are a resident from the Burngreave area, aged 14–25 years and have the potential, strength and dedication to be the new ‘Prime Minister of Burngreave Youth Council’ or if you have got that encouragement or leadership skills, now is the time to stand as a nominee for this council and make sure the youth of Burngreave and their opinion is taken into consideration.

The Messenger spoke to Ryan Higgins, of the shadow youth council:

“I’ve grown up in Burngreave and I’ve always helped out at events and community activities. I never thought my opinion could be heard at the higher level of authority and I see this as a chance to have my opinion heard.”

Stand for the Youth Council

10th November, 5.00pm: Deadline for nominations: A nomination form can be found inside the printed edition of the November 2006 issue of the Messenger, or contact Zain Abdulla on the numbers below.

11th November, 6.30–9.00pm: Manifesto preparation: Young people nominated or standing, must attend this session to prepare their manifesto.

15th–19th November: Campaigning

Voting for your representative

20th–22nd November: Elections: Vote for your representatives at the following venues:

• All Saints Connexions Centre, 7 Lyons Close S4 7EP

• Earl Marshal Connexions Centre, Heathcoat Street S4 7UR

• Burngreave StreetworX Project, 204 Verdon Street S3 9QS

• New Deal Information Shop, 131 Spital Hill S4 7LF

• Fir Vale School (Polling Van location)

• Parkwood High School (Polling Van location)

24th November: Election results

For further details, contact Zain Abdulla on 272 3628 or 0792 149 1540, or email zain.abdulla@sheffieldfutures.org.uk.