Teenagers are being urged to help tackle problems in Tower Hamlets, such as knife crime and deprivation, by signing up as young politicians to help shape the borough’s policies.

Young people aged 13 to 19 – or up to the age of 25 if they have special educational needs – are being recruited to join the borough’s Youth Council, a local authority specially for teenagers, or sit on a Youth Forum, a policy discussion group covering a specific “constituency” in Tower Hamlets.

In previous years, the Youth Council has worked on a range of consultations about issues affecting young people, including crime, regeneration, and drugs and alcohol addictions.

Former member Tabassum Noor said: “Being part of the Youth Council really improved my confidence, developed me into a leader, and gave me the opportunity to make a change in my local community and develop policy.”

To find out more, visit www.amp.uk.net or call Boris Rupnik on 0207 364 3091. The application deadline is February 15.