CHILDREN as young as 11 will be invited to form their own town council in Wantage.

Elections for the first Wantage Youth Council will be held the same day as the General Election – Thursday, May 7, at King Alfred’s Academy.

The seven young people elected will be an official committee of Wantage Town Council, and given an initial budget of £5,000.

Mayor Fiona Roper said the youth council would be able to tackle any aspect of town council business, and she would like to see it lead on projects.

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She said: “The youth council can do anything they like that involves young people – things we might not know about, facilities needed.

“They could stage events, do surveys, liaise with the police about problems in the park.”

One project the youth councillors could lead on, she said, was the ongoing campaign to revamp play equipment at Wantage Recreation Ground in Manor Road.

She said King Alfred’s Academy had been keen to get on board with the scheme. She said: “The school has really gone for it which is quite exciting.

“I think it could be good for children all around.”

Although the youth council would have a £5,000 budget, it would not be able to spend it without approval from the full town council.

Mrs Roper said it was hoped to create an online nomination form soon, and teenagers would be invited to nominate themselves or friends.

She said she hoped the scheme would encourage youngsters to get interested in politics and the General Election.

Wantage Town Council’s youngest member Ben Mabbett, 21, has been pushing the idea since he was elected 18 months ago.

He said: “Before I joined there was a mentality of ‘we know what young people want’ but actually we should be asking young people what they want.

“King Alfred’s has agreed to help organise the election and we are hoping to maybe get some hustings and debates going.”

The new council will be given training and guidance in local government procedures, how to run meetings, put together and present manifestos and set up surveys.

Although King Alfred’s will be organising the election and hosting debates positions on the council won’t be limited to the school’s pupils.

Headteacher Jo Halliday said it was the “perfect opportunity” for young people.

She said: “We are delighted to be working with Wantage Town Council to launch this great opportunity for young people to form a local youth committee and become involved in local issues.”

Toby Mew, 15, a pupil at the school said: “This will give young people a chance to engage with local politics and have a say in what really matters to them.”