New mayor Ameera Abdi and her deputy Areeb Ahmed

A 14-YEAR-OLD girl will represent Islington at civic events as the borough’s latest young mayor.
Ameera Abdi found out she had been elected to the position on Monday, and said: “I feel ecstatic.”

Teenagers from across Islington voted for new youth councillors in November but now have Ameera as mayor and Areeb Ahmed as her deputy. Ayokunnu Fawole is Islington’s new London Youth Assembly member.

The Town Hall’s children’s service chief Labour councillor Michelline Safi Ngongo said the roles were a “vital part of our plans to make Islington a more equal borough as we strive to give all our young people the best possible start in life”.

The borough’s youth councillors

She added: “We know that young people were massively affected by the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic, and that many are now struggling because of the pressures brought by the cost-of-living crisis. I look forward to working with our new youth councillors to ensure that the services we provide are well-suited to what our young people need.”

Youth councillors have responsibility for making sure the opinions of young people in Islington are heard and campaign for youth services in Islington to be responsive to the needs and interests of young people. They work with council officials and councillors.