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Ashford KYCC candidates

Voting opened on 11 November and closes on 24 November for the Kent Youth County Council elections.

Results of the election will be published on 3 December.

Candidate manifestos

Read their manifestos to find out more about what issues they're standing for and submit your vote!

I want you to vote for me because:

I will try to improve mental health and wellbeing, social exclusion and poverty, and education and employment challenges for people in Kent.

Issue 1: mental health and wellbeing

I will try to enforce peer support groups, online resources and mental health charities that are crucial in providing additional emotional support, especially for those waiting for professional help.

Issue 2: education and employment opportunities

I will try to expand apprenticeship programmes and collaborate with local businesses which can help provide more practical training opportunities for young people, especially those in rural areas, and make better transport services to access jobs and educational opportunities better.

Issue 3: social exclusion and poverty

I will try to make the government and local authorities allocate more resources to programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and providing support for young people. Collaboration between schools and community organisations can help create opportunities for young people, reducing social exclusion.

I want you to vote for me because:

I believe that the wellbeing of all children is vital and they should have the opportunity to learn, feel safe and never be hungry!

Issue 1: Free School Meals including breakfast

Free school meals not just for families that financially struggle, but for those that have other difficulties. School to provide free breakfast for those that are in early enough to avoid students coming into school hungry because they haven't had breakfast due to lack of time or other issues.

Issue 2: improving public transport for young people and the local community

Make transport more accessible for everybody. Some people are reliant on using the bus to get around daily, but unfortunately, it is not always a reliable service. I plan to campaign to help improve the reliability of the buses for the community and to make the bus tickets more affordable for parents.

Issue 3: social exclusion and poverty

Help children that do not speak English, to have an opportunity to learn English quickly so they feel included around their school and therefore safer. So, instead of them learning a different language in school like French or Spanish, put them in a different class and let them learn English.

I want you to vote for me because:

I want to make sure that the young people of Ashford feel that their voices are heard across the county

Issue 1: mistrust in the police

Many young people in Ashford do not trust the police force and do not have any respect for their authority. I believe that the relationship between police and young people needs to be rebuilt by having more police at public events and having a much more physical presence in the local community.

Issue 2: rising crime rates among youth population

Because of the mistrust in the police force and peer pressure, many young people in Ashford commit crimes on a daily basis. These crimes range from stealing to vaping. I believe that many of the issues can be reduced by introducing more police in local areas once trust is regained.

Issue 3: school policy adjustment - respecting students' rights

I believe that schools do not allow their students to express their basic human rights, such as using the toilets. It greatly disrupts their education and also results in the student becoming ill. Many students find that teachers do not take them seriously and therefore feel their voice is not heard.

I want you to vote for me because:

I will make the city a safer place for everyone.

Issue 1: the voice of all - listen to your views

I will hold meetings during lunch or after school to listen to classmates' concerns and ideas about the way things are being run.

Issue 2: an eco-friendly future

I will organise events like "Green Week" with activities and workshops on how we can save our planet.

Issue 3: our inclusive community - diversity and support

We need to promote diversity and inclusion, such as cultural exchange programmes or anti-bullying. We should create peer support groups or mentorship programmes to help students with academic or personal challenges.

I want you to vote for me because:

I shall try to restore our connection to nature and drive out food poverty in schools make sure everybody is treated equally.

Issue 1: food to fill all - Free School Meals

I want to help everybody eat at school and make sure everybody who needs them can get Free School Meals so nobody goes hungry.

Issue 2: restore the environment

We need to help the world. During the Industrial Revolution, we destroyed the earth and polluted it. I want to try and restore the nature of our areas and make the outside a fun place to be.

Issue 3: inequality out the door

At schools and places of work, racism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination linger. I work to drive it out and try to make equality for all where it is so slurs won’t be used and everybody will be treated equally.

I want you to vote for me because:

I am a passionate individual who will always stand up for what is right. I listen, I act, I produce, I am someone who will fight for you.

Issue 1: transport pricing

Transport is very expensive for people in Ashford especially those of which who use public transport. Nobody should have to spend over £400 to have a bus card for an academic year. In my campaign, I would make it so that a bus card is less expensive and more accessible.

Issue 2: spend less, buy more - affordable essentials for all

With inflation the price of everything has increased. While pricing has increased, wages have not. I would fight to decrease the pricing of necessities.

Issue 3: have your voice heard

Many people feel trapped and alone because they believe that their voice is not heard and that they cannot trust a representative or a teacher or even their MP. I would propose meetings that could happen where individuals could express their opinions and actually have it heard.

I want you to vote for me because:

I want to ensure positive change for young people throughout the county and ensure that all young people have access to equal opportunities.

Issue 1: affordable school meals

I understand that catering companies within school can't just reduce their prices, as there wouldn't be a profit incentive, however I think there should be a council subsidy for items over £1.50, allowing no child to ever go hungry at school. Food is fuel, and we need to fuel the minds of the future.

Issue 2: cleaner environment

I would like to increase environmental education within schools, teaching children where our food comes from and the importance of recycling, as well as using public transport and walking where and when possible.

Issue 3: increase anti-bullying resources and education

Bullying is such a big problem in schools and damages the mental health of many. I am hoping to increase resources and support, as well as increasing education, as many don't realise when they are being a 'subtle bully'.

I want you to vote for me because:

I want to better the public transport system, reduce antisocial behaviour among teens and reduce drug use.

Issue 1: public transport

In order to make buses more reliable, I want to ensure there's proper warning for late/cancelled buses and improve the Stagecoach app. Also, I want to introduce school only routes to limit/prevent students feeling unsafe or uncomfortable and ensure everyone has a way to get to school.

Issue 2: education on the risk of drugs

I want to make sure there’s education in schools on the risks of drugs, including ways to help someone in an overdose, test substances and help with recognising/overcoming an addiction. I think there should be a focus on harm reduction as drug use/underage drinking among teens is almost unavoidable.

Issue 3: reduce antisocial behaviour by offering more opportunities

I want to better advertise the youth centre and run more engaging sessions, run free/discounted days for teenagers at the council owned Ashford Cinema, make deals with other activities in the local area and promote things that can give disadvantaged teens help/opportunities.

I want you to vote for me because:

I feel like I am very responsible and have a strong moral compass, I promise, vote me, and I will bring justice to the Kent community.

Issue 1: bring more sports to the youth!

In this campaign, I would like to add more sports areas for the youth, this could be anything from basketball hoops, football goals or even tennis nets. I want this because it encourages young people to go outside more and can even help prevent crime if people do not have time to do stupid stuff.

Issue 2: make public transport great again!

I am recommending that every month, kids aged 10 to 18 years will be able to have a set amount of free bus passes for going to places or travelling around England. I think this because like with the sports activities, it encourages the youth to go outside and stops kids from solely going on their i-pads.

Issue 3: an England-to-abroad school transfer event!

I propose that schools around Kent should be able to do transfer events to schools abroad, like what a Taiwanese school do with Towers School And Sixth Form Center every year. I think this would be a brilliant idea because it creates diversity in the community and can broaden people's horizons.

I want you to vote for me because:

I am devoted to bettering the life of young people in Ashford. Young people are our future, so giving them a good foundation is vital.

Issue 1: sport over violence, not violence for sport

Young males from deprived areas, such as Ashford, are more likely to commit crime. It has been proven that getting young people into sport, pushes them away from criminal behaviour. I want to build the foundations for young people to have a clear pathway into sports, with a focus on the next steps.

Issue 2: financial literacy for young people

With Ashford being a deprived area, it is vital that the young people in the area are financially literate, in order for us to be able to have a brighter future. Teaching young people about just mortgages isn’t enough. How do we budget? What savings account should I look at? We need to make a change.

Issue 3: young people in politics

In the 2024 general election there was a voter turnout of only 60%, with less than half of that statistic being young people. Young people are the future, and so it is key that young people are brought into political conversations, to ensure our country is moving towards a bright, inclusive future.

I want you to vote for me because:

I am a very kind person and will let everyone feel welcome as I have been a deputy member before, and we have done things within groups.

Issue 1: public transport

I would like to get people with physical disabilities (and hidden ones) free bus passes. This would help them with independence and encourage them to feel safe and welcome on their journeys.

Issue 2: social media - staying safe online

I would like to get people educated on how to stay safe and how to spot the signs of their children or friends going through cyber bullying or getting groomed as such.

Issue 3: encouraging healthy choices - being fit for life

I believe that people should encourage other people to get fit and active so they can have a healthier lifestyle. Because if you aren't healthy, there is a high risk of you developing health problems or even dying earlier. Encouraging teenagers to make healthy choices could have a positive impact.

I want you to vote for me because:

I want to do everything I can to help the disadvantaged and impoverished in Ashford, and make it a safe and welcoming space for all.

Issue 1: tackling antisocial behaviour

I believe that antisocial behaviour can lead to people feeling unsafe in and around Ashford. In order to help fix this, I believe that issues such as vaping and smoking are a major cause of this, and should be addressed.

Issue 2: making Ashford a safe space for everyone

Ashford suffers from under-education around the LGBT community and minority groups, leading to some people being intolerant. I believe that this could be addressed through spreading information and promoting visible inclusivity to show that Ashford is a town for everyone.

Issue 3: helping hungry children

Many children in Ashford suffer from living in poverty. This must be addressed by raising charitable donations and increasing awareness around the food bank system, as well as helping promote and spread the recipes for cheap and nutritious meals.

I want you to vote for me because:

I have great Ideas and I think am very hard working.

Issue 1: student welfare hub

In schools, most students are facing tough lives outside of school. Unfortunately, in some schools you cannot find any of the student or welfare managers because of how big the school is. The way to fix this is to make a block where the student managers are.

Issue 2: Free School Meals

People who live in Ashford aren’t able to get Free School Meals which can cause people that live in poverty ineligible for Free School Meals because Free School Meals are very expensive because cost £470 per year for the parent to allow their children to have Free School Meals.

Issue 3: pollution - rewarding recycling

In Ashford, or anywhere in Kent, there is a pollution problem mainly because people think its useless, but i think that recycling should have a reward to make people recycle more.

I want you to vote for me because:

I passionately believe it’s important for youth to be the best we can and have our voices heard in the places where we are often overlooked.

Issue 1: developing our area - youth spaces

I want to create more spaces for youth in our local area, this could be more places of entertainment, developing sports facilities, making places to do crafts and more. I would create a forum where people can suggest ideas about what they want and create an area that will be enjoyable for all.

Issue 2: mental health and wellbeing

I know the stresses many students go through balancing school, exams and life, so I will champion for there to be safe spaces within schools where they can go and talk to someone who will listen with care. I'll also campaign for more activities and events for all students, that are not school-based.

Issue 3: climate change and the environment

Climate change is a prevalent issue, so alongside supporting local eco-communities, I want to create a cleaner, more thriving environment - achieving this through making natural areas for students in schools and nearby, as well as challenges and ways to get students involved in aiding our environment.

I want you to vote for me because:

I want to make a difference in our community and make Ashford a better place to work and study. I'm passionate about improving our area.

Issue 1: keeping Ashford clean

Delegate people or volunteer myself to clean the grass and the area because I have seen rubbish build up and our environment should be managed better.

Issue 2: mental health support

Really get to know the people of Ashford and find better ways to support those who need it because problems aren't always visible and we need to tackle this in young people.

Issue 3: open opportunities

A lot of people don't get involved in our local community because there isn't a lot for them to get involved with and i would love to open up new clubs and new opportunities for people to get to know each other and have fun.

I want you to vote for me because:

I want to make social services more available for young people and improve access to extracurricular activities.

Issue 1: revitalise Ashford youth services

The Ashford Youth club North shut down earlier this year. It was a great place. I went there for multiple years and I always remember it was a safe place, where people from many different backgrounds could come together and heal. I would like to improve services such as these in Ashford.

Issue 2: allow people to talk about crime

Ashford is a great town, but it and many other places in Kent can be quite unsafe places. I want to make sure that young people know who they can talk to if they are victims of crime by making sure schools are clear about this.

Issue 3: improve the bursary system/financial help for young people

The bursary system is very beneficial. It helps people access services they need. However, the bursary system has a lot of baggage. It can be hard to apply as people don't know whether they are eligible, and a lot of bursary money goes to waste. I want to streamline the system to help those in need.

I want you to vote for me because:

I’m a dedicated individual to make Kent a better place and strive to make change within our community.

Issue 1: public transport

I would like to try and get the reliability within Kent to increase and help serve the community more frequently.

Issue 2: mental health and wellbeing support

I would like to try and get an increase of young people getting the right support that is needed. Also, I want to try and guide them to the best help they can access.

Issue 3: tackling poverty and Free School Meal

I would like to try and get the amount of young people in poverty down and help them by letting them access free school meals since they may be living in food insecure homes which results in a poor diet.

I want you to vote for me because:

I will spread awareness of autism and mental health, and also, if you vote, me I will be here for you and your needs.

Issue 1: autism awareness and education

I want to help the awareness of autism by helping them with there struggles, and difficulties inside and outside of school.

Issue 2: mental health and wellbeing

I want to help everyone in Kent, so I want to deal with everyone's struggles with mental health, so I will try to deal with everyone's mental health in Kent.

Issue 3: support within schools

I want to help people with their difficulties, so I want to make school work a bit easier for everyone who struggles. To give everyone more help at school.