Ready for the responsibility: Lewisham elects its bright young mayoral reps

Bilvilyn Asamoah has been appointed Lewisham’s next Young Mayor following a borough-wide election.

The 13-year-old student, who lives in the borough and attends Addey and Stanhope School, in New Cross Road, New Cross, won 1,824 votes in the election, which took place in schools and colleges on Wednesday of last week.

Paul Frimpong, 14, a student from Forest Hill School, in Dacres Road, Forest Hill, was elected as Deputy Young Mayor after receiving 1,356 votes.

A total of 9,485 votes were cast for 37 candidates, with a healthy turnout of 57.46 per cent.

Bilvilyn Asamoah said: “I want to say thank you to everyone who supported me. I really appreciate it and I’m going to do good things.

“I hope to achieve a better space for young people in Lewisham and increase opportunities so we can all achieve what we want to achieve.”

The Young Mayor is elected to represent young people’s views and makes sure they are heard by adult decision makers.

The Young Mayor is supported by young advisers and has their own budget that they can use to turn their ideas into reality and make the borough an even better place in which to live, study and grow up.

Pictured top: Bilvilyn Asamoah and Paul Frimpong – the new Young Mayor and Deputy Young Mayor of Lewisham (Picture: Lewisham council)