SOUTH YORKSHIRE MAYOR’S QUESTION TIME ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN CHANGING THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER

Published 9 August 2022 at 3:04pm

Forty young people (aged 14 to 24 years) from across South Yorkshire took part in a Mayor’s Question Time event hosted by South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard on 3rd August at the University Centre in Rotherham (UCR). 

The inaugural event marked the launch of quarterly public question times – delivering on a manifesto commitment from the mayor to engage with people across South Yorkshire through question time events and a promise to be “the most transparent mayor in the country.” 

The event was chaired by Curtis Yip from Rotherham Youth Cabinet and Rebecca Russon from Sheffield Youth Cabinet, who introduced the guests to South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and asked the questions, some of which were submitted in advance and others on the night.

The questions covered topics including transport, skills, climate, the economy, SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) and accessibility support, youth communities and political engagement with young people.

Questions included: 

• “How will you ensure that there are opportunities for young people to engage in entrepreneurial activity and stay in Sheffield?”
• “What are your plans to improve public transport links, including heavy and light rail in the region?”
• Will there be jobs opening up in Rotherham centred around the environment and sustainability?
• Many young people in South Yorkshire lack knowledge or interest in politics, saying no one represents them.  How are you trying to combat this?
• What sort of things are you doing in our region to support the issues young immigrants and refugees face, such as language barriers and feeling left out?

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said: "As South Yorkshire's Mayor, I’ve promised to do politics differently, and part of that involves being transparent and accountable and having conversations with our communities about the region we want to become.  It is important for young people to make their voices heard and to play their part in making decisions in South Yorkshire that will shape their future.”

When he was elected in May, following the South Yorkshire Mayoral Election, Mr Coppard said his priority was "getting on and delivering" promises made in his election manifesto, with a priority on improving bus services.

At the event, Oliver Coppard said: “I want you to know that you can work in politics, you can be a Councillor, an MP, or you could be the mayor.  Stay active, stay involved, focus on the things that you care about and then there’s no reason why you can’t change the world!”

For more news and information follow the Mayor on Twitter https://twitter.com/SouthYorksMayor