You don’t have to wait until you’re older. Your voice matters now.

Jun 26

By Paige Abrey

**When I was 17, I was elected as Youth Mayor of Stevenage, a position I held for one year.**

After running a successful campaign across my town, I was chosen to represent over 20,000 young people. It was truly an honour! I first heard about the position as I was in the Youth Council of Stevenage. It was a voluntary position that was a great foundation to my role as Youth Mayor.

What followed was a year full of learning, advocacy, and a deepened sense of responsibility.

Serving as Youth Mayor was one of the most empowering and eye-opening experiences of my life. When I first stepped into the role, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, just that I wanted to represent the voices of young people and make a difference in my community.

One of the most rewarding parts was having a seat at the table.

Whether it was attending council meetings, working on local campaigns, or speaking at community events, I had the opportunity to bring youth perspectives into spaces where they’re often missing. I saw firsthand how decisions are made and how change happens slowly, but meaningfully.

The drawings are from a Christmas card competition I held across primary schools in my area. — These are drawings from a Christmas card competition I held across primary schools in my area!

I also had the chance to work with passionate young people, many of whom hadn’t seen themselves reflected in politics before. Whether we were organising events, collecting feedback, or just having honest conversations, I felt proud to be part of something that helped others feel seen and heard.

Of course, it wasn’t always easy.

Balancing the role with school, navigating bureaucracy, and a short time frame but they made me more resilient. They reminded me why it’s so important to have youth voices in leadership and decision-making.

Being Youth Mayor wasn’t just a title, it was a platform.

It taught me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about listening, learning, and showing up. If you’re thinking about putting yourself forward for a role like this, I can’t recommend it enough.

My biggest takeaway…