To receive a verbal report on the latest activities of the Young Mayor and Young Cabinet.
Minutes:
Before the outgoing Young Mayor, Max Godfrey, reported on activities he made the following announcements:
On Friday 17 February 2023, Cameron Quinn from St Thomas More school, was elected as Young Mayor and their pledge was “To ensure that every young person in North Tyneside has the best possible start in life by creating a safe diverse and nurturing environment.” Also, Sharon Zeng from George Stephenson High school, elected as Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), and their pledge was “To raise awareness about the importance of financial education in schools, informing students about their financial choices and career choices.”
Max wished both Cameron and Sharon all the best in working to achieve their pledges and was sure Youth Councillors would support them in achieving them, as they had supported MYP Hannah and him to achieve theirs. He also commented that as this may be his last time at Cabinet thanked everyone for all the opportunities to represent young people and had enjoyed his time in the role.
Max then reported on the following activities in which he and Young Cabinet Members and/or Youth Councilors had been involved:
· Many of the Youth Council Environment Committee and Young Mayor had taken part in the tree planting in the Northwest of the borough as part of the North East Community Forest project and attended St Columbus Primary School to help with the planting in the school grounds as part of their Eco Schools Award.
· The Young Mayor’s pledge to encourage as many schools as possible to register for the Eco school Award, had now registered 51 schools which was a huge increase. Max thanked the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Authority’s Sustainable Environment Team for all their support and who visited schools in the borough to raise awareness on recycling and the Eco Schools Award.
· The Young Mayor thanked the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Authority’s Head of Environmental Sustainability for attending the last Environment Committee meeting which helped the young people to learn about the work that was being undertaken by North Tyneside Council as part of the Action on Climate Change.
· The fundraising for Walking With had gone well over the year and most money raised had been from the Morrisons request for donations from shoppers during the third fundraiser of the year in Whitley Bay and raised a further £85.81, which 1 and was added to the running total making the final amount of £703.67. The money would be presented to walking With at the March Youth Council meeting. 150 large bags of groceries had also been generously donated which were greatly appreciated.
· Members of the Youth Council, SEND Youth Forum and Children’s in Care Council were working with the Independent Scrutineer for the Children’s Safeguarding Partnership, in helping top co-produce a video informing young people of the Partnership and how they can get help around young people’s safeguarding.
· The SEND Youth Forum had been busy making films around School Nurses and Education, Health, and Care Plans and why it was important to hear the voices of children and young people in these. The videos would be used at staff conferences and on the Authority’s SEND Local Offer and website.
The Elected Mayor thanked the Young Mayor for his update and congratulated him and all the young people for their excellent and valuable work over the last year. The Elected Mayor and her Cabinet were proud of Max and MYP Hannah and welcomed them both in their future roles. These accolades were echoed by Cabinet Members and the Authority’s partner representatives present.