Bristol's first youth mayors announced

Ramal Royal and Issi Trout and have been voted in as Bristol's first ever youth mayors following Bristol's Big Youth Vote.

The vote – which gave young people the chance to vote for 28 new members of the Youth Select Committee – saw 8,800 young people return ballot papers at polling stations in 57 secondary schools and youth centres across the city.

Following their election at the count at the Station on Friday, February 8, the new Youth Select Committee members then voted for the two youth mayors by internal ballot.

As part of Ramal and Issi's new role they will advise the Mayor of Bristol on decisions affecting young people, attend meetings and accompany the Mayor to events.

Issi Trout (age 16), a student at Redland Green School said: "I'm really excited about being youth mayor and helping to give young people in Bristol a voice. I want to carry on the Youth Select committee's work to combat bullying and discrimination and particularly want to focus on campaigning for affordable bus travel for young people."

Ramal Royal (age 16), a student at St Brendan's Sixth Form College, said: "As well as keeping up the pressure on bus travel, I want to do what I can to help young people get an equal wage and ensure anyone from an under privileged background gets the same opportunities as everyone else."

The new Youth Select Committee members also voted in Theo Davies, Sanya Rajpal, Christy Nunns, Nell Bailey, Vishal Mamgai and Rajni Mamgai as the new UK Youth Parliament members by internal ballot following the count.