A cabinet member was grilled by members of Tower Hamlets’ Youth Council about employment and funding for youth services.

During a question and answer session last week, the group of 30 youngsters, quizzed cabinet member for Children’s Services, Cllr Oliur Rahman, on topics ranging from youth employment, funding for youth services to perceptions of young people.

Tower Hamlets’ Young Mayor, Nahimul Islam, also spoke about his experience as a representative and offered advice to anyone thinking of filling his shoes when a new Young Mayor is elected next January.

The Youth Council, which is made up of youngsters who live or study in the borough,

intend to hold councillor-style ‘surgeries’ in secondary schools giving youngsters have a platform to discuss local issues.

They also planning a school film project to tackle negative images of young people in the media and encourage pupils from different schools to work together.

The next Youth Council meeting is on February 22 and is open to any young person who lives or studies in Tower Hamlets.

Anyone interested in attending should contact lee.ocsko@towerhamlets.gov.uk or 020 7364 4839.