Leeds Children’s Mayor – the winner is announced…
In today’s blog, Alex Mason talks about his experience of watching the Leeds Children’s Mayor final at Leeds Civic Hall!
On 12 November it was the Leeds Children’s Mayor Final at the Civic Hall where 12 finalists waited to find out who the winner of the 2015 Children’s Mayor was! It was a very tense and exciting night for the children and their guests, and the event turned out to be an amazing success.
Initially, schools asked their year 6 students who were interested in participating in Children’s Mayor to write a manifesto about what they would change/improve about Leeds if they were Children’s Mayor and the class then voted on their favourite manifesto to submit. Each school submitted one entry, 36 schools entered in total.
The final 12 manifestos were shortlisted by a group of young people. They then presented their manifestos in their school assemblies spread the word of their manifesto and promoted the online voting.
On the night, one by one each shortlisted candidate stood up and read out their manifesto to the Lord Mayor. As silence fell upon the room, the winning finalist, and this year’s Leeds Children’s Mayor was finally announced as…
Hannah Begum from Hunslet Moor Primary School!
While the other finalists were obviously disappointed, they were quick to offer their congratulations to Hannah as well as supportive comments to the other candidates.
“Everybody has the right attitude. We all support each other. We’re all winners” Leah Hebden, Queensway Primary School
“When we were thinking of manifesto ideas at my school, it was hard to come up with something that wasn’t already being done because Leeds is already such a Child Friendly city” – Daisy Lavelle, Horsforth Newlaithes Primary School
“It certainly was a night to remember, and such a welcoming environment in an iconic building” – Leia Speirs, Strawberry Fields Primary School
Overall the night itself was an exciting and captivating moment for the children involved and provided the children of Leeds with a voice to express their views on what they think will make Leeds a more Child Friendly City!
Thanks to Alex for sharing his thoughts.
