Laura Is Blaenau Gwent’s New Youth Mayor

Seventeen-year-old Laura Beaton is Blaenau Gwent’s new Youth Mayor after being elected by the Talk it Up youth forum.

Student Laura, from Ebbw Vale, is taking A-Levels in Geography, English and Drama at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw in Pontypool and hopes to study Law at university next year. Her ambition is to become a barrister.

Laura said:

“As Youth Mayor I hope to promote the voices of children and young people throughout Blaenau Gwent.

“I want more young people involved in the National Eisteddfod which is coming to Blaenau Gwent in 2010.

“I will also be trying to get more youngsters involved with our youth forum Talk it Up. A lot of people do not know about the good work our young people in Blaenau Gwent do and I hope that more people will begin to appreciate that our opinions count just as much as everybody else's.”

Bradley Morgan, aged 19, who lives in Brynmawr and is studying Politics at Swansea University, is the new Deputy Youth Mayor.  He said:

“After finishing my degree, I hope to become involved with politics in the Blaenau Gwent area and being Deputy Youth Mayor is a great place to start.

“I will assist Laura in her work over the next year and work to improve relations between the Council and young people in the county borough.”

Cllr Steve Bard, Blaenau Gwent Council’s Executive Member for Education, said:

“Talk it Up shows what young people can achieve when we give them the opportunity to prove themselves.

“I am certain Laura will be a credit to the office of Youth Mayor and that her deputy Bradley will give her the very best support over the next year. We wish them the best of luck and I will always be available to help them and the other members of the youth forum to represent the interests of all our young people.”

Laura was elected by fellow members of the Talk it Up youth forum.  She was presented with her chain of office at a Talk it Up event attended by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler; Paralympics double cycling gold medallist, Simon Richardson; BBC Wales current affairs presenter, Adrian Masters; Blaenau Gwent Council Leader, Cllr Des Hillman and Mayor of Blaenau Gwent, Cllr Jen Morgan.

Harnisch Lacey Dance Theatre, singer Elizabeth Tiley, the Samba De Mania Band, Nidus Children’s Choir, Carl’s Bag of Rags Band, singer Kirstin Major and the Ebbw Vale Rock School Band all gave performances at the Youth Mayor inauguration held in the Beaufort Ballroom.