First Meeting of new Congleton Youth Council

Congleton’s new Youth Council has officially got underway, with an enthusiastic and diverse group of young people coming together for their inaugural meeting at Congleton Town Hall.

Twelve young people aged between 10 and 17 attended the first session, representing a wide range of backgrounds and experiences from across the town. The meeting began with an energiser activity, “Draw a Politician”, designed to show that anyone can be a politician and that, as Youth Councillors, the group is already representing their community – not through party politics, but by giving young people a voice.

The group discussed the purpose of the Youth Council and its role in representing the views of young people to Congleton Town Council and the wider community. Members then elected their first officers, appointing Barney Mitcheson and Sadie Kirk as Co-Chairs, alongside a Vice Chair and leads for Social Media, Fundraising and Activities.

A key part of the meeting focused on identifying priorities for young people in Congleton, building on the findings of a youth workshop held last year. One of the main issues raised was the need for a safe and welcoming place for young people to spend time in the evenings. The group discussed the idea of creating a youth café, sharing creative ideas about what it could look like and the activities it could offer.

Co-Chair Barney Mitcheson said: “It was really exciting to see so many young people get involved and to hear their ideas. The youth café looks like a promising way to create a safe and fun space for young people in our town.”

The meeting was lively and positive, with everyone contributing and sharing a diverse range of activities the café could host, such as movie nights, board games and live music. The next step will be to explore potential funding to help make these ideas a reality, and the Youth Council would like to hear from any business or charity that might be able to help with sponsorship.

Co-Chair Sadie Kirk reflected: “The first meeting felt very welcoming and everyone had a chance to speak. It’s great to know that our opinions will be listened to and that we can help shape things for young people in Congleton.”

The Congleton Youth Council will now meet monthly in the early evening at the Town Hall. There are still a few places available, and any young person who would like to take part is encouraged to get in touch.  Any organisation wishing to offer sponsorship should also email the council.

To get involved, please email info@congleton-tc.gov.uk with the subject line ‘Youth Council’.