The proof

  • Figures below are taken from a poll (London Young Residents Survey 2005, Taylor Nelson Sofres) conducted during the second year of Lewisham's Young Mayor Scheme - it is possible there are other factors at play but there is no identified explanation other than the Young Mayor for the substantial differential in perception.

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History of Young Mayor Scheme

A young mayor is a young person who is elected by other young people to represent them.

TCC designed and pioneered the first Young Mayor election in Middlesbrough in 2002. At a point where voter apathy was at its highest since the Second World War, these elections were designed to introduce young people to democratic participation at an early age. By mirroring the process of the first ever elections for adult directly-elected Mayors we hoped this process would normalise voting behaviour in young people and also raise awareness of the process in the wider population.

Six years on, there are now Young Mayors in Lewisham, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Melton, Wyre Forest and Lambeth and there will soon be Young Mayor's for the first time in North Tyneside, North East Lincolnshire and Camden. Over 100,000 young people have taken part in these elections across the country. Turnout in these elections is higher than the equivalent turnouts in adult elections; most recently in Lewisham and Newham, turnout has reached 49% and 43%.

The Government thinks that this is such a great form of youth representation that it has recommended that all local authorities should do it.

Why it works

Young Mayor works because it is:

  1. Real - a budget and a voice at the table
  2. Democratic - elected on real policies and accountable to the electorate
  3. Led by young people - involved in the running and design from start to finish
  4. Not just about one person - everyone benefits, from the youth cabinets to the elected adult politicians who have a figurehead for young people to consult