Young people in Lewisham elect a new Young Mayor

Young people in Lewisham have elected a new Young Mayor – with the top five candidates who received the most votes being all female.

Rosanna Campbell, 15, was elected Young Mayor of Lewisham following an election that attracted a strong turnout of 51 per cent of Lewisham’s young people.

The Bonus Pastor Catholic College pupil won after taking 1,766 votes and has become Lewisham’s 17th directly elected Young Mayor.

Miss Campbell ran on a manifesto to promote equality of opportunity in the classroom, tackle racism and allow the Black community freedom and security to wear their hair how they feel most comfortable.

Olivia Mardling, 15, who attends Sydenham School, was elected Deputy Young Mayor after polling 1,431 votes with a manifesto that focussed on putting safety first, including introducing self-defence in more schools and providing better lighting in residential areas.

Miss Campbell said: “I am so happy but also feel a bit overwhelmed.

“Olivia and I have a lot of responsibility, to make sure all the voices of young people in Lewisham are heard.”

Lewisham’s young people took to the polls at schools across the borough on Wednesday October 20.

The election saw 9,839 youngsters voting, representing a turnout of 50.87 per cent.

Both the new Young Mayor and deputy will be in office for one year and will have a budget of £25,000 to spend on priorities identified by young people.

Third place in the poll went to Ana Rodrigues and fourth place went to Moriah Mensah.

Both young women have been elected to represent the London Borough of Lewisham at the UK Youth Parliament.

Fifth place went to Sheniz Elmaz-Golding, who is elected to represent the London Borough of Lewisham on the London Youth Assembly.

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham, said: “Huge congratulations to Rosanna on becoming Young Mayor of Lewisham, and to Olivia for becoming Deputy Young Mayor.

“I look forward to working with them as they put their policies into practice.

“We have thousands of passionate young people in Lewisham and our Young Mayor Programme – which was established 18 years ago and was the first in the country – has helped them get involved in politics, and bring about positive change in the borough.

“Well done to all the other candidates and thank you to our outgoing Young Mayor and Deputy Young Mayor Femi Komolafe and Aaliyah Odedina.”

Pictured (L-R): Outgoing Young Mayor Femi Komolafe, new Deputy Young Mayor Olivia Mardling, new Young Mayor Rosanna Campbell and Mayor of Lewisham Damien Egan.