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Epping Forest Youth Council 2020 has 29 members this year – 4 more than normal.
Youth elections interrupted
The decision to appoint all candidates who put themselves forward for election in local schools was taken when the elections were interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The new councillors took office in March and are currently conducting meetings and training by video conferences every Tuesday.
An extraordinary situation
Cllr Nigel Bedford, Portfolio holder for Communities said:
It is an extraordinary decision, but it was an extraordinary situation we found ourselves in.
Rather than disappoint any of the young people we decided to appoint all candidates. 5 of them are previous members of Youth Council so are able to share there experience and expertise with the new intake.
I’m very much looking forward to meeting them when the current regulations are removed.
The youngest councillor is just 12-years-old and the oldest 18. Nominations were open to Year 8 and above in schools within the Epping Forest district. Training involves weekly challenges to keep them engaged and when complete they will jointly choose projects for the coming year.
Epping Forest Youth Council 2020-2022
The 29 youth councillors are:
- Riya Bhargava (Braeside School)
- Samantha Halcrow (Braeside School)
- Simran Tiwana (Braeside School)
- Cameron Khadem (Chigwell School)
- Archie Flynn (Davenant Foundation School)
- Alec Ivanov (Davenant Foundation School)
- Martin Prinsloo (Davenant Foundation School)
- Oscar Prosser (Davenant Foundation School)
- Jamie Schooling (Davenant Foundation School)
- Matthew Carter (Debden Park High School)
- Daniel Turner (Debden Park High School)
- Max Adams (Epping St John’s School)
- Sonny Bazzoni (Epping St John’s School)
- Megan Wilson (Epping St John’s School)
- Natalya Oronto-Videl (Independent)
- Harriette Pickering (Independent)
- Harry Sellen (Independent)
- Tomor Troshupa (King Harold Academy)
- Sammy Miller (The Ongar Academy)
- Finley Wallbanks (The Ongar Academy)
- Hooren Ahmed (Roding Valley High School)
- Ayaan Azam (Roding Valley High School)
- Frank Cullis (Roding Valley High School)
- Lauren Marks (Roding Valley High School)
- Natalie Moffat (Roding Valley High School)
- Bianca Nedelcu (Roding Valley High School)
- Sydnae-Rose Smith (Roding Valley High School)
- Zaara Ahmed (West Hatch High School)
- Aliza Zarras (West Hatch High school)
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