Teenagers Max Godfey and Hannah Clark McKeran will be giving North Tyneside’s young people a say in their future after being elected to two influential youth roles.
Max, 15, a pupil at St Thomas More RC Academy, has taken office as the new Young Mayor after polling 2,292 of the 4,647 votes cast.
In office for one year, Max will act as a figurehead for young people across North Tyneside, giving them a much needed voice and influencing decisions made by the Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn, the cabinet and council.
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He will succeed outgoing Young Mayor Suzie McKenzie, 16, who had her tenure in the post extended for another term due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile Hannah, 15, a student at Marden High School, has been elected North Tyneside’s Young Member of UK Parliament (MYP), after winning 1,520 of the 4,408 votes cast.
She will join 350 other MYPs from across Britain, representing the views and concerns of young people from across North Tyneside in the coming year, as well as debating on their behalf locally, regionally and nationally.
She takes over from Abi Tang, 17, a Royal Grammar School student who lives in North Tyneside.
Max campaigned on environmental issues, such as single use plastics and the need for the area’s carbon footprint to be reduced. In his election manifesto he said: “We live in a beautiful part of the world and I want that beauty to be protected for many years to come.
“I will be a young mayor who will not just say what I’ll do, I’ll do what I say.”
Speaking following his election, Max thanked everyone who had voted for him and added: “I pledge to represent every issue that young people care about.”
Hannah campaigned on reforming PD (physical development) lessons and said in her manifesto: “Instead of doing topics that we have covered multiple times since Year 7, we would instead be doing more important life skills, such as learning what a mortgage is, learning first aid training, and going into greater depth about mental healthy awareness, all of which I think are vital life skills.”
Following her successful election as an MYP having polled 1,520 votes, Hannah commented: “I genuinely can’t wait to make a difference.”
Young people aged between 11 and 18 who live, work or attend school or college in North Tyneside, were eligible to stand for election, and take part in the vote.
The process is an attempt to put real power and responsibility into the hands of young people and treat them seriously.
The Young Mayor is elected by direct ballot every year and, along with a cabinet of young advisers, is given a budget to initiate a programme of work, as well as scrutinise the way the council is run.
Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, Norma Redfearn, said it is important that young people across the borough have their voices heard.
She said: “Our previous Young Mayors and Members of Youth Parliament have done an amazing job and I always enjoy hearing about their latest projects and their thoughts and plans on how the borough can be further improved for the benefit of children and young people.
“I’d like to congratulate and thank all those who put themselves forward, and a big well done to Max and Hannah. I’m sure they will do an excellent job of representing the views of the borough’s young people locally, regionally and nationally, and I look forward to working with them.”
Most of Max and Hannah’s duties will be arranged outside of the school day, and they will be supported to make sure they honour all school commitments.
