New young mayor of Tower Hamlets revealed » Communities » 24dash.com

Tower Hamlets Council is pleased to announce Akram Hussain as the new Young Mayor of Tower Hamlets.

Over 4,000 11-18 year-olds cast their votes during the election, with Akram heading off competition from 19 other candidates to be declared the new Young Mayor.

He now takes over from Jahid Ahmed who has held the post for the last year.

The 15 year-old Stepney Green School student becomes Tower Hamlets’ second ever Young Mayor and will be the voice of young people in the borough.

The role will involve Akram representing young people across Tower Hamlets to ensure their views and ideas are listened to.

He will chair the Tower Hamlets Youth Partnership, attend important public events such as cabinet meetings and also regularly visit schools to speak to the borough’s young people about what they would like to see happen in their borough.

Akram said: “I'd like to thank all the candidates who stood for election this year and everyone who voted for me.
“But most of all, I'd like to give a big shout out to all the staff and young people at Redcoat Youth for supporting me all the way.

“Without them, being the young mayor wouldn't have been possible.”

Along with all of the other candidates, Akram was asked to produce an election manifesto to explain what he would do if he was elected as Young Mayor.

Crime and the environment were two of Akram’s priorities, but he also wants to help improve the career opportunities available to young people out of work, training or education in Tower Hamlets:
The Young Mayor election was organised and managed by the council’s Youth and Community Services team.

The team has been busy promoting the election to schools and youth groups across Tower Hamlets in recent weeks, and was in charge of counting the 4,000 plus votes made by local youngsters.

Councillor Clair Hawkins, Lead Member for Children’s Services at Tower Hamlets Council leant a hand to the counting process and will work closely with the Young Mayor over the coming months.

He said: “Congratulations to Akram and his deputies – this is a hugely important role and I’m really looking forward to working with him and hearing what young people in Tower Hamlets want to see from the council.

“The fact that so many people turned out to vote for the election shows that young people in this borough really care about their community, and want to be listened to when it comes to the big issues.”

Akram will be assisted in his role by two deputies; Alex Kuye, 16 from Swanlea School and Faiza Mukith, also 16 and from Langdon Park School and will be officially inaugurated as the new Young Mayor of Tower Hamlets at a ceremony at the Town Hall in March.