"As Head of Year, I am incredibly proud that three of our Sixth Form students, Chanel, Maame and Rhoda, have been elected to the Northampton Youth Council. Each of these students exemplifies the values of Northampton Academy, and I am excited to see how their roles evolve throughout the year, not only through the meaningful work they will undertake but also through the valuable skills they will develop."
"Hi, I am Chanel, Chairman of West Northamptonshire Youth Council, as well as a Member of the United Kingdom Youth Parliament. The privilege of being elected to this position is one which I will forever be grateful for. My position has enabled me to develop many skills, such as advocacy, teamwork, innovation, and confidence. For the past 19 years, Northamptonshire has not seen a Youth Council; however, we are here to break the cycle of silence…My manifesto explored the glorification of knife crime and the compliance of the government towards it; too many innocent souls have been stolen from not only Northamptonshire, but the United Kingdom. We need to stop talking about change; instead, we need to lay the foundations of that change and bring to light the dark culture of knife crime. The West Northamptonshire Youth Advisory Council is committed to bringing about the change we once believed would never be our reality."
"I am Maame, an elected member of the West Northants Youth Advisory Council! I decided to run for the position so I could create positive change for the young people of West Northamptonshire, my generation. My manifesto focused on accessible transport for young people, as I believe it is an essential part of our lives. Not only is it necessary to access an enriching education, but also the ability to socialise and seize the freedom we deserve. As part of the youth council, I have worked with a group of determined young people to drive forward the voice of the youth. We have organised events, such as a Young Citizens Day workshop and Cake and Debate, which is an opportunity for young people to debate leaders in their area."
"I am Rhoda, I was elected to the youth council earlier this year. I applied because I had already done a lot of community work at the school, but I wanted to see what else could be done to improve the lives of young people in Northampton. Joining the youth council has been a great opportunity not only to network, share feedback and ideas, but also to build public speaking and debating skills. Being able to work in a team and be in an environment where we can all share ideas and take initiative to use them to improve our peers' lives is such a great opportunity!"