Borough Life Winter 2006: Teenager’s civic day to remember
Mayor for the day Beth Pugh pictured in the council chamber
BETH Pugh believes young people should take action! The 13-year-old from Hindley thinks children and teenagers should use their voices to have a say in the issues that affect them locally, nationally and globally.
And that’s exactly what she did when she took up the famous chains and robes of office to become Wigan’s first citizen for a day.
Hindley Community High School pupil Beth was helping to promote Local Democracy Week in Wigan. The event helps to raise awareness about how local government works and how people can get involved.
Beth became mayor for a day after submitting a question on the state of the public transport system to be put to the borough’s politicians and decision-makers during a Question Time-style debate.
After being picked up from her home in the mayoral car, Beth accompanied Mayor of Wigan Cllr Eunice Smethurst for a day full of civic duties and got a real insight into what the job’s all about. “It was a great experience,” said Beth. “And it’s given me a better idea about how local democracy works and why it is important for everyone to take an interest.
“It has shown that everyone’s view is important and the only way you can change things is by having your say.”
Mayor Cllr Smethurst was delighted to have Beth as a companion for the day.
She said: “It is so important that we get young people interested and involved in local government. They are the future generation and it is they who will be taking the important decision one day. Although with young people like Beth around it looks like the future is in safe hands.”
For more information on how young people can get involved with local democracy, contact Angela Wood at Wigan Council’s Youth Service on 01942 510112 or 07930 192311.