Hammersmith and Fulham Youth Council members addressed the Full Council meeting on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, to outline their priorities and progress in supporting young people in the borough.

The Youth Council has identified mental health, work readiness, and life skills as key areas of focus, aiming to represent a diverse range of young people and challenge stereotypes.

Abhi Fenar, the current Youth Mayor, emphasised the council's commitment to inclusivity, stating that they are trying to actively challenge the stereotype of youth council being for only a specific type of young person.

Elaph Al-Najjar, Member of Youth Parliament, highlighted the Youth Council's packed calendar of events, including community open days and recruitment sessions, to engage with various voices and co-produce solutions. We've got numerous open recruitment sessions for young people to have a taste of the youth council and get involved in the future, Al-Najjar said.

To address mental health concerns, the Youth Council co-produced a website called Best for You, offering a range of resources for young people aged 11 to 25. The council also collaborated with H&F Works to create live opportunities and work experiences for young people, aiming to improve work readiness.

Additionally, the Youth Council has been working on life skills initiatives, including cooking, cleaning, financial literacy, and first aid. They are also promoting safety through initiatives like the Crime Stoppers Fearless Campaign app, and a podcast series on healthy relationships and sexual health, which has already reached a target audience of 1000 young people.

Looking ahead, the Youth Council aims to increase diversity, work with more strategic leads, and promote the Youth Hub through various events and rebranding efforts. They are also developing a series on inclusion with the Action on Disability Youth Board.

Councillor Rebecca Harvey praised the Youth Council's work, saying, You're so brave to come and speak to everyone here and to have such confidence. It's really wonderful.

Councillor Aliya Afzal-Khan added, We are extremely proud of how you are setting such a great example for this wonderful borough.

The Youth Council encouraged all councillors to get involved in their work and to contact their Youth Voice Coordinator, Brenda Winnett, for further collaboration.