Present Youth Mayor
On Friday 12th May 2023, the Youth Mayor Inauguration took place at the Civic Centre in Merthyr Tydfil.
Katy Richards who is 16 years of age and a student at Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic School (formerly Bishop Hedley) became the 13th Youth Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil.
Dylan Morgan Thomas who is 16 years of age and a student at Ysgol Rhydywaun became the Deputy Youth Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil.
In her acceptance speech, the Youth Mayor outlined her three pledges for her term of office. Her first pledge being very personal to her to raise awareness and develop support for young people's mental health.
Katy’s second pledge is to work with and challenge the education for young people by ensuring young people’s mental health and wellbeing is high on the agenda and a key focus in schools, ensuring young people have the support to be the ‘best they can be’.
Finally, Katy’s third pledge is to raise awareness and promote equal rights for those young people with additional learning needs or those who consider themselves to be disabled.
Katy said, “I am very passionate about this issue as I have severe hearing loss and ALN therefore, it is important to bring about change that is positive that will benefit young people”.
Katy also spoke about the young people saying that “it would not be possible for me to be in the role without the support of the remarkable young people of Merthyr Tydfil. It is their vote that got me into this position, and it is for them that I will work tirelessly and treat this office with the status and respect it deserves”.
Katy is a member of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Wide Youth Forum and would like more young people to get involved in the forum.
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On Thursday, 28th of October, the young people of Merthyr Tydfil voted for a new Deputy Youth Mayor Elect. The successful candidate was Jacob Bridges aged 20 years and who is employed by Care Inspectorate Wales. Youth Mayor Katy Richards announced the results of the voting that took place across the borough during the week, at an event held by the Merthyr Tydfil Borough Wide Youth Forum at the Civic centre; Jacob Bridges will take on the role of Deputy Youth Mayor in May 2024.
In October every year young people across Merthyr have a democratic vote to choose the next Youth Mayor. This year there were six candidates in the running and Merthyr secondary schools and college students used their voice to vote for their candidate.
The current Youth Mayor Katy Richards said “that the calibre of candidates is phenomenal year on year and this year was no different, she said that Merthyr Tydfil Borough Wide Youth Forum congratulates them all for their commitment to the campaign. Katy also congratulated each individual candidate for putting themselves forward for this year’s election, and she looks forward to working with them all when they join the cabinet.”
In attendance was the Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil, Cllr Malcolm Colbran, Deputy Leader Andrew Barry, Childrens Champion Cllr Lisa Mytton, Cllr Paula Layton, Cllr Declan Sammon, Cllr Claire Jones and Cllr John Thomas.
Cllr Malcolm Colbran, Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil said “Congratulations to Jacob Bridges on becoming Merthyr Tydfil's Deputy Youth Mayor Elect having been elected by his peers out of 6 outstanding candidates.”
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If you would like further information about how to get involved then please contact, Youth Support Participation Officers, Chloe Rees or Morgan Ellis Watkins at Safer Merthyr Tydfil on 01685 353999 or contact us via our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @MTYouthforum.