Congleton’s new youth council has officially launched, with the group of 12 youngsters coming together for their inaugural meeting at Congleton Town Hall recently.
The young people, aged between 10 and 17, attended the first session, representing a range of different backgrounds and experiences.
The meeting began with a “draw a politician” activity, designed to show that anyone can be a politician and that, as youth councillors, the group already represents their community – not through party politics, but by giving young people a voice.
The group discussed the purpose of the youth council and its role in representing the views of young people to the main Congleton Town Council and wider community.
Barney Mitcheson and Sadie Kirk were appointed as co-chairs of the group, alongside a vice chair and leads for social media, fundraising and activities.
A key part of the meeting focussed on identifying priorities for young people in Congleton, building on work which took place during a youth workshop last year.
One of the main issues raised was the need for a safe and welcoming place for young people to spend time in the evenings.
The group discussed the idea of creating a youth cafe, sharing creative ideas about what it could look like and the activities it could offer.
Co-chair Barney Mitcheson said: “It was really exciting to see so many young people get involved and to hear their ideas.
“The youth cafe looks like a promising way to create a safe and fun space for young people in our town.”
Ideas for things the project could offer included movie nights, board games and live music.
The next step will be to explore funding to help make these ideas a reality, and the youth council decided they would seek sponsorship from businesses or charities to help with this.
Co-chair Sadie Kirk said: “The first meeting felt very welcoming and everyone had a chance to speak.
“It’s great to know that our opinions will be listened to and that we can help shape things for young people in Congleton.”
Congleton Youth Council will now meet monthly at Congleton Town Hall.
There are still a few places available for new members to join, and any young person who would like to take part is encouraged to get in touch with the town council by emailing info@congleton-tc.gov.uk with “youth council” in the subject line.
Follow So Cheshire on Facebook, Threads and Instagram, or email cheshire@so-counties.co.uk with story suggestions and to enquire about advertising opportunities.
