Youth Mayor statements

The Youth Mayor elected for 2023/24 is Millie Quinn. The Deputy Youth Mayor is Favour Oniri.

Read their statements to find out more about their priorities and what they hope to bring to their roles.

Millie Quinn

My name is Millie Quinn and I am so pleased to have been elected as the first youth Mayor of Wandsworth. I am currently in my first year of A-Levels, studying politics, sociology and history with a longer-term aim to work in human rights. Beyond school, I enjoy music and have been part of Wandsworth Music Academy for eight years and where I play the viola as part of their Philharmonic Orchestra. I also play the piano and have been teaching piano for the past 4 years.

I am involved in various social action groups including Wandsworth Youth Council where I have been a member for two years, and, until recently, co-Chair.  I am driven by issues that I am passionate about including:

Youth voice

Because young people (0-18 years) represent 19.3% of Wandsworth’s population and I believe young people’s voices are needed to make a more inclusive, innovative and fairer borough.

Policies about young people should not be made without us and I have seen this practice as a youth advisory board member for Safer London, a charity working with young Londoners who have been affected by violence and exploitation, as well as in parliamentary APPG meetings on youth affairs and My Life My Say meetings, that I attend. Both groups promote youth voice, and I hope to support this best practice, through my new role.

Tackling sexual violence through, and in education

I believe sexual violence has become far too normalised in our society and we need to create a wider culture of rejection, through education.

Promoting understanding of young people living with poor health

I am passionate about this due to my own experience of chronic migraine. There is a lack of equity for young people who live with ill health (visible/invisible, physical and mental) and better understanding is needed, particularly in education.   

I very much hope, that as the Youth Mayor, I can support and promote good practice in these areas and work on changes where needed, while representing the views of young people in our borough. 

Deputy Youth Mayor - Favour Oniri

My name is Favour Oniri and I am really grateful to have been elected as the Deputy Youth Mayor of Wandsworth. I live in Balham, and I am currently in my final year of sixth form, studying A-Level English literature, religious studies, and sociology. Outside of my studies, I enjoy reading, baking, fashion and photography.

I applied for the role of Youth Mayor because as someone who belongs to multiple marginalised groups I would be well positioned and informed to amplify the voices of people who feel overlooked by traditional leadership structures.

I hope to use this platform to advocate for issues that matter to our community, and therefore my priorities are:

Education 

I would seek to remove the barriers between the Council and its residents by utilising the town hall to host work experience and networking taster sessions for everyone to enjoy. 

Removing the stigma around non traditional courses – informative sessions with those who have pursued these career paths to help combat these stigmas and encourage young people to figure out what they are passionate about and would like to do in the future.

Stronger and safer communities

Spreading awareness about how to build healthy relationships and recognise abuse. Within schools in Wandsworth scenarios should be utilised during PSHCE to increase awareness. 

Community engagement in the form of hosting regular events for community members to actively engage in like bake sales, jumble sales and other community events to raise money for shelters, food banks and other charitable organisations.

Child poverty

Increasing financial literacy. Hosting workshops on financial literacy and budgeting for young people while providing opportunities for them to add volunteering to their personal statement.

Mental health and wellbeing

Raising awareness of young people’s mental health and wellbeing reduces the stigma surrounding it. I would also like to provide peer support programmes for young people facing these issues.

Speaking to adults about these issues can be intimidating, therefore connecting young people with those similar to themselves and providing judgement free sessions to speak about their mental health would be invaluable. 

I hope that as the Deputy Youth Mayor I will work with or newly elected Youth Mayor with carrying out the key priorities. Our position, despite facing our own individual challenges, is to bring young people together and elevate their voices and tackle the concerns that mater to them. As young women, we hope to inspire likeminded young people from all different backgrounds to be moved to rewrite  their future and feel more confident in their own abilities.