By Isle of Wight Observer
I am an 18-year-old in Ventnor, and I am a town councillor. I’d like to talk about why I wanted to become one and how it all happened.
When I first joined Ventnor Town Council, it was like walking onto the cricket pitch as the only batter in the game. There was no bowler, no fielders, and no competition – it was a straightforward walk to the crease, and I was automatically declared the winner, as the election ended up being uncontested. At first, it felt like I hadn’t really earned my place, like scoring a century without ever facing a ball, leaving me wondering if I deserved to really be there.
But then I realised that a win is still a win. Whether the crowd is cheering or the stands are empty, the game goes on, and someone has to step up to bat. I’ve taken the crease, ready to play my innings, not because the competition wasn’t there, but because the team – the community – needed someone to step up and represent them. That’s what makes the role important. It’s not about how you got in; it’s about how you play the game once you’re on the field.
It was only a couple of weeks before I joined Ventnor Town Council that I even thought about making the leap to become a town councillor. I’ve been involved in fighting for young people since the age of 14, be it on the Island as the Deputy Youth MP and a Youth Councillor, or nationally when I helped lead a campaign for free school meals in 2022 which got a petition to over 255,000 signatures. As part of that campaign I appeared on Channel 4 News talking about my own experience of free school meals. I’ve campaigned for years as an activist, been awarded in parliament and attended protests multiple times. I’ve fought, whenever able, against the injustices that face young people and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life. Being a town councillor is my chance to formally start those conversations and work towards change.
As one of the youngest town councillors on the Island, I see that it’s not just my job to be another town councillor. We have those already; we don’t need more. What is needed is someone with a unique voice, a story to tell and the life experience to back it up. Ventnor, the wider Island, and the whole country needs more young people involved in politics, especially in a world of decreasing engagement in young people.
My role is to act as a role model where I can, and I have already met people that I would be happy to stand aside for and allow them to do the things that they think need to be done. I am not ashamed to admit there are people better than me for the job I do now, but, what is clear to me, is that there was no one else ready to step up for the team when I was.
It’s been an interesting ride so far, learning so much more than I ever thought I would. One of the most valuable lessons has been balancing the time as a town councillor with my full time job as a learning support assistant working with children with special educational needs.
The passion that lead me to become a town councillor is still as alive today as several months ago, and I hope that in my role, I can be a champion for people who need an advocate most in life.