Waterside manon NI forum

The 21-year-old is currently a Volunteer Youth Support Worker with the Rainbow Project in Londonderry, having worked as a volunteer for the past two years.

He went to North West Regional College to do Childhood Studies and completed his Level 3 OCN in Youth Work.

He has a particular interest in psychology and counselling in relation to helping people with mental health issues.

He said: “I hope that in my time as part of the Executive Committee to make a lot of contributions to youth provision in relation to LGBT issues, mainly the Transgender community, issues in and around mental health provision and people’s views on equality and diversity.”

NIYF Director Chris Quinn said the election marked a new era for the organisation with a renewed commitment to campaign for the sort of changes that will lead to the creation of a peaceful and more tolerant society.

“We had an unprecedented number of young people standing this year - a total of 46. The young people have agreed that one of the priority areas of work over the coming months will be votes at 16. They believe there needs to be change in Northern Ireland to build a stable and lasting peace and young people must be part of the decision-making process.”

He added: “The introduction of Votes at 16 helped to energise the political debate in Scotland by including a whole new generation of young people who are politically informed and concerned about their future.

“We believe that extending the voting age in Northern Ireland will encourage our young people to have more of a stake in society.”

Over the next year, the NIYF will also work for the introduction of Youth Zones for shared educational campuses; promote the voice of young people who have been involved in the justice system; host a debate on a proposed motion to legalise cannabis; and develop a large scale youth led programme that will effect real and lasting peace.

For more information about the Northern Ireland Youth Forum, its aims and objectives and the members of its new Executive Committee go to www.niyf.org