OLDHAM Youth Council is to be recognised with the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service celebrates outstanding work done in communities.
It recognises groups whose work has significantly benefited others and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering by such groups.
Oldham Youth Council, which was first established in 2006, and includes members of Royton and Crompton, Oldham Academy North and Crompton House school, aims to represent the views and opinions of young people by having democratically elected youth councillors.
It is made up of up to 70 members who are all young people aged 11–21 and live, work and study in Oldham.
By working closely with Oldham Council and its partners, Oldham Youth Council ensures young people’s views and opinions are helping to shape and influence services and decisions made in the borough.
It was first youth council in the UK to be given constitutional rights and is able to present motions to Full Council.
Mohammed Marouf Ahmed, Youth Mayor of Oldham, said: “We are over the moon to have been recognised with such a prestigious award, it’s a real honour.
“I am so proud to be a part of the Youth Council and over the last 12 years I know many young people have given their time and effort to make it what it is today.
“We volunteer our time because we believe in Oldham, we believe in young people and we want to make sure we have an Oldham we can all be proud of.
“I know I can speak on behalf of every youth councillor when I say, we love what we do and receiving this award is something we are all incredibly proud of.”
To celebrate the prestigious achievement, Youth Service Manager, Jodie Barber and Oldham Youth Mayor Elect, Amber Powell, attended a Buckingham Palace Garden Party on May 31.
The Lord Lieutenant of the Greater Manchester, as The Queen’s representative, will present the Youth Council with a certificate signed by The Queen, and a commemorative crystal at a ceremony in Manchester on August 29, 2018.