Appointment with the Greenwich Mayor

Members of Thamesmead Youth Voice (TYV) and Thamesmead Youth Action Link, joined Trust Thamesmead in attending the Mayor's office earlier this month, after Greenwich Mayor, Councillor Jim Gillman invited them to look around the new Civic Centre, Town Hall and Council Chambers in Woolwich, where they met the Mayor and Mayoress, as well as Councillor Jackie Smith, Greenwich Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

TYV member, Paige Sullivan, said "It was a great experience as we got an insight into just how challenging it is to become a Mayor and then of course, just how difficult it is to assume that role. I learnt that there is a lot more that goes on behind closed doors than I would ever have imagined, for example engaging with the local community regularly to find out about any problems they may have."

Paige added: "Meeting the Mayor and the Mayoress was a great experience and once you got to talk to them, it made you realise that in fact, they are just two ordinary people trying to make a difference in the local community."

Trust Thamesmead's Community Development Manager, Janice Jones said: "We had a really positive and interesting visit." Adding, "We all learnt a lot and Thamesmead Youth Voice gave a presentation and asked lots of questions. They especially enjoyed the chambers - they all pretended to be a councillor and even requested they have microphones for their meetings."

When asked if any of them could picture themselves becoming a councillor in the future, TYV member, 15 year old, Jerusha Frimpong said "Definitely because I like debating my points of view."

The evening's invitation stemmed from the Mayor's visit to the Trust Thamesmead/Thamesmead Youth Voice International Youth Day event held at Woolwich Poly last month.