YOUNG people in Barry will play a part in electing the Vale of Glamorgan's first ever youth mayor next month.

Between Monday, October 13 and Friday, October 17 schools, youth clubs and youth organisations will have the opportunity to vote for their Youth Mayor, helping introduce young people to democracy and the electoral process.

Last year’s Local Democracy Week focused on increasing membership to the Vale Youth Forum, a group aged 11 to 25 who meet regularly to ensure young people have a voice on matters that affect them in the Vale. This led to the election of the youth cabinet and, building on that success, the next step involves electing a youth mayor.

Councillor Chris Elmore, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: “It's fantastic that the Local Democracy Week campaign this year will focus on the election of the youth mayor for the Vale of Glamorgan.

"This is the climax to over two years hard work by young people, the youth service and the Vale Youth Forum in developing a plan to ensure young people have a real voice and say on matters which not only affect them but on services across the Vale of Glamorgan.

“A commitment was made in 2012 to deliver a new level of youth engagement in the council’s decision making processes and my colleagues and I were determined that a youth cabinet and mayor would be delivered.

"The youth cabinet has already been working with myself and Vale Council cabinet colleagues and has been consulted on various projects and ideas currently being considered by officers and councillors. Good luck to everyone who is standing to become youth mayor and I look forward to working with them in their new role once elected.”