Proving young people really do care has won Lewisham Council a Beacon Award for Positive Youth Engagement thanks to the success of its Young Mayor scheme.
At a ceremony on March 20 the Young Mayor, Wilf Petherbridge, picked up the award on behalf of the council.
He said: 'In Lewisham we have shown young people are interested in what goes on around them and feel democracy can be important.
'I am pleased the council has won this award because it recognises that with the right approach, the voice of young people can be heard.
'Now other councils can learn from us and maybe the people that decide things will start listening to what young people everywhere have to say.'
The award recognises Lewisham’s excellence in reaching out and involving young people in its decision making.
As a Beacon council, Lewisham will be given funding to share its experience and knowledge with other local authorities.
This is the second of the awards handed to Lewisham after it was awarded Beacon status for sustainable energy in 2005.
Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, said: 'Winning Beacon Status is recognition that we take the concerns of young people seriously.
'To me it is important we engage with young people and involve them in democracy and decision making.
'Like many councils, Lewisham’s town hall is largely filled with older politicians, so getting teenagers and young people involved makes a real difference to how we see the borough.
'Here we have seen a real injection of bright and fresh ideas for which I am grateful.
'It is exciting that our successes and innovative ideas are going to be spread across the country and even abroad.
'I would like to thank everyone involved for everything they have done to win Lewisham this award – it is a tribute to your commitment and dedication.'
Beacon status is granted to those councils that can demonstrate a clear vision, excellent services and a willingness to innovate within a specific theme.
Lewisham’s work engaging young people has already attracted interest from a number of UK councils and a trip is planned to Prague where the Young Mayor and advisors will be meeting with the Prague Youth Parliament for an exchange of ideas.
The Young Mayor scheme started in 2004 by Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham.
The current Young Mayor, 15-year-old Wilf Petherbridge, was elected by 8,103 of the borough’s11 to 17-year-old - a 46.8 per cent turnout.
Wilf has a £25,000 budget to spend on youth orientated schemes.