Teens take charge of council meeting debate

Kirklees Youth Council took charge of the Batley, Birstall and Birkenshaw Area Committee meeting last Thursday to present projects they have been involved with.

The youth council, formed in October 2008, is made up of 32 young people aged between 13 and 19.

Atiqa Aziz, 17, and 14-year-old Saad Aziz chaired the meeting at Batley Town Hall.

Teenagers from Project 6 Million discussed their trip meeting survivors from the Holocaust.

Young people who took part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme showcased a video of their time on the course.

The evening also featured performances from Wilton dance group and the Fieldhead fusion girls group.

Saad Aziz said: “I was nervous about chairing the meeting, but being in the youth council helped me to do it.”

Atiqa Aziz added: “I got involved because I wanted to have a say as it is important teenagers are represented.”

Area committee chairwoman Coun Gwen Lowe said she could not have been more proud after handing over the reigns to the teenagers.

She said: “The projects help them make friends, gain confidence and most importantly have fun. I hate when people say teenagers have nothing to do because these youngsters have shown there is.”

Youth councillors in Kirklees are elected for a two-year term and there are elections every six months.

They aim to tackle issues faced by young people in the district and give them the opportunity to challenge decision makers and put their views across.