Praise for Marlborough’s teenagers for setting up the town’s first Youth Council came at last week’s Town Council meeting from members of the Council’s working party that sponsored the initiative.
Hugo Taylor, the 16-year-old St John’s School student who is the Youth Council’s chairman, and two of his colleagues sat at the back of the council chamber smiling as councillors applauded their efforts.
“This is a wholly worthwhile project, which is beginning to get some legs,” the Mayor, Councillor Guy Loosmore, who was initially responsible for promoting the idea, told councillors.
“It has a long way to go but we must be seen to be fully supporting the youth of the town. The Youth Council needs to be run by the youth and not by us telling them what to do.”
Councillor Alec Light, one of the working party members, agreed. “The meetings we have had from the beginning with the Youth Council have been absolutely fantastic,” he declared.
“They know what they want to do and they are dedicated to that cause. We need to give them every encouragement to go forward.”
And Councillor Justin Cook joined in the congratulations. “They are really switched on kids, very driven,” he said. “They’ve got some really fantastic ideas.
“I am looking to the future, to the day when one or more of these youngsters is coming to a full town council meeting as councillors themselves.”
The Town Council, which is involving Wiltshire Council’s youth services in the project, agreed to provide the Youth Council with its own financial budget support.
Meanwhile, it has given a £500 underwritten guarantee to cover the costs of the Youth Council’s first event – a disco at the Town Hall for 12 and 13 year old teenagers on Saturday June 21.
“That is the first of our ideas and a good start,” Hugo Taylor told Marlborough News Online. “We feel that the young people in Marlborough are not being heard and that their voices are not being listened to, especially in the town council itself.”
He only heard about the project a couple of months ago and took it upon himself to discover more – and join the Youth Council.
“And I got voted in as chairman because I am considered outspoken,” he added.
His two colleagues at the council meeting were William Rupp, 17, the Youth Council’s treasurer, and 18-year-old Cameron Taylor, both day pupils at Marlborough College.
The College has been drawn into the project thanks to Councillor Lisa Farrell, who works there, and because its charitable status encourages it to become involved in playing a role in the community.
“I am so proud of being there for them,” she said. “They are doing so well. They really want this Youth Council to work. So I hope the town council will support them 100 per cent. They are here for our future.”
The working party councillors, who also include Councillor Richard Allen, believe it is essential that young people are encouraged to play an active and positive role in the community.
“Initially the Youth Council will obviously put on events for different age groups and in that way spread the message,” he told Marlborough News Online. “Once they are more organised and formulated they will move forward, if you like, the junior version of the town council.
“Personally, I would love them to have their own slot at all full Town Council meetings every six weeks. They can then bring forward things that matter to them, which they would like us to debate and either adopt or reject.
“I would like them to be a feeder into the council’s agenda.”
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