New Hailsham Youth Council Appointed

Hailsham Youth Council (HYC) appointed a new chairman and new officers at its AGM last week.

Michael Cullen was elected Chairman, while Nadia Rahman, Jack Izzard and Ella Evans were elected Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Other appointed members include Thomas Lilliott as Assistant Treasurer and Maddie Carr as Assistant Secretary, all pupils of Hailsham community College.

Hailsham Youth Council gives a voice for 11-19 year olds from Hailsham and surrounding villages, enabling them to raise issues and initiatives with the main town council, impact local government policies and strengthen their leadership skills in the process.

Meetings to discuss youth involvement in local government and general issues they feel are important take place on a monthly basis, and are reported to the Town Council for consideration.

Since its re-launch in September 2009, Hailsham Youth Council was partly responsible for the proposal to construct a skate park on the Maurice Thornton Playing Field behind the Hailsham East Community Centre and had supported proposals for a new outdoor gym to be installed at Western Road Recreation Ground.

Speaking after his appointment, new Chairman Michael Cullen, 17, said:

“The Youth Council has been very successful over the past few years and we are looking forward to continuing that success. We have many events planned for 2015 alongside our twin town Gournay-en-Bray, and we will continue to express the youth of Hailsham’s voice.

The new youth council year brings an exciting period for the Youth Council with lots of possibilities and areas its members are trying to develop,”

Andy Joyes, Youth Project Coordinator at Hailsham Town Council.

“Furthermore, our youth council will continue to build strong links with organisations within the town and throughout the Wealden district and discover how they can work together in a way that involves the town’s young people more and gives them the credit they deserve.”

Hailsham Youth Council meets fortnightly on Friday afternoons at the Town Council Offices in Market Street on an informal basis. Members may occasionally be asked to attend Town Council meetings to discuss some issues or provide updates on project activities.

Anyone interested in becoming a member should contact Andy Joyes on 01323 841702 or send an email to andy.joyes@hailsham-tc.gov.uk