Isle of Wight Youth Council elects new leadership

At the beginning of each term, a new set of leaders (chairperson and deputy) are elected.

Lianne Ponferrada, will be chairing the Youth Council, alongside Finlay Diffey. 

Lianne says, during my first term, I had the privilege of experiencing a taster of what leading the Youth Council was like, as I held the vice chairperson position, last year.

The Youth Council (Image: Andy Newman)

I was greatly invigorated by the presence of such amazing peers and inspired by the previous leadership. I felt ready to go all in. 

Growing up as a Filipino woman on a predominantly white Island, I constantly felt so isolated. I never thought I would find a youth group where I would feel wholly included, let alone lead one! 

As chairperson, my first priority is strengthening our connections with charities and organisations.

As we saw at Youth Alliance, the sense of community and empowerment thrives when we unite. I intend to do this by remaining aware of new opportunities and groups on the Island. 

Secondly, as chairperson, I have the responsibility to spread awareness about the Island’s environment, especially concerning how our youth is impacted by its mutability.

The environment is far more multifaceted than I could have imagined, including our cultural landscape: Arts, music, ethnic cultures, religion and so much more.

They are inextricably entwined and are fundamental to our lives. That being said, the question I would like to confront is, how can young people ensure we are consulted properly in these sectors? 

My third priority is the Youth Council’s online presence.

According to the most recent Youth Trust Census, 99 per cent of young people on the Island use social media.

Recognising this, we revamped our Instagram and made our TikTok debut.

As chairperson, I will continue our online activity and explore other media realms, such as local newspapers. 

Lastly, as I am in Year 12 and am planning to go to university in 2025, I will likely be leading for a year before stepping down, to focus on exams. This situation is similar to other chairs, Megan White and Benson Hardy, who accomplished so much in the months they led. They have consistently encouraged me, and I cannot thank them enough for their support.

I look forward to seeing what Finlay and I can get up to.