Human rights lawyer is new mayor for Wandsworth, while borough gets first ever youth mayor.

Human rights lawyer Sana Jafri has pledged to celebrate diversity and support communities after being sworn in as the new mayor of Wandsworth.

And sharing the limelight this week is 17-year-old youth mayor Millie Quinn, who has vowed to give young people a voice after being handed the title of youth mayor – a first for the borough. She was chosen by members of the Wandsworth Youth Council.

Cllr Jafri was last year’s deputy mayor. She is an immigration lawyer and a mum of two who was born in Tooting and still lives there. She volunteers with local youth groups and charities, campaigns for equality and human rights and has raised funds for St George’s Hospital.

She said: “I’m proud to be the first Pakistani Muslim mayor. My faith will be an important part of my mayoral year because I want to change the narrative about being a Muslim in Wandsworth.

“Yes there are some bad people but that’s not what we are – we are taught to look after each other, support charity and do good.

“As a mother I want to be a great role model for my children and I want to show young Muslim women that it’s important for us to be out there achieving.

“This community has always been my home. My year as deputy mayor has been amazing and I had a great time bonding with different groups and helping to raise awareness of the many smaller organisations that together do so much for Wandsworth. I’m really looking forward to the coming year.”

The new deputy mayor is retired architect and East Putney counclllor Finna Ayres, who is interested in urban planning, affordable housing and accessibility issues.

Youth mayor Millie Quinn is studying for her A-levels and hopes to work in human rights. She is a youth councillor and a member of the Wandsworth Music Academy, playing viola and piano.

She is passionate about educating young people about the harm of sexual violence and to promote understanding of young people living with poor health.

“Young people represent nearly 20 per cent of Wandsworth’s population and I believe their voices are needed to make this a more inclusive, innovative and fairer borough,” she said. “Policies about young people should not be made without us.”

The deputy youth mayor is Favour Onri, who has an interest in education, community engagement, child poverty and young people’s mental health.

Pictured top: Newcomers to mayoral roles: Sana Jafri, Millie Quinn and Favor Onri (Picture: Wandsworth council)