Celebrating the Achievements of Sutton's Young People

As Leader of the Council, I’ve recently been able to see some of the incredible work our young people are doing to shape our borough’s future. Last week, I had the pleasure of attending Sutton's Youth Summit 2024, where young people came together to share ideas on how to make Sutton more inclusive, celebrate diversity, and reduce violence. 

Last week also saw the launch of Sutton Council’s new anti-vaping campaign, ‘B Clear about Vaping’, created by students from Carshalton Boys Sports College. 

The ‘B Clear about Vaping’ campaign, supported by the Greater London Authority (GLA), aims to educate young people about the risks of vaping. A recent survey by our Public Health team revealed that many students had misconceptions about vaping. In response, Sutton Council ran a competition to design a campaign that would speak directly to young people and the winning entry was chosen for its powerful message.

George Baird, a Year 11 student from Carshalton Boys, summed it up perfectly:

"The 'B Clear about Vaping' campaign has had a huge impact on me and my peers. It’s highlighted how little we actually know about vaping, especially the impacts on our health and the environment. I hope this campaign, with the posters and video, shows all young people in Sutton the true effects of vaping."

Sutton Youth Summit, organised by the Young Commissioners at Volunteer Centre Sutton, was supported by a number of different organisations from across the borough that work with and support our young people. The energy and creativity on display were truly amazing to see and it was great to be able to meet so many inspiring young people. The Young Commissioners have designed and produced an engaging and creative pocket guide on celebrating Sutton’s diversity.

After the Youth Summit, Young Commissioner Aaminah said:

‘’The Youth Summit was an amazing event where it was wonderful to see people of all ages and backgrounds engaging in all that was going on. My highlight was seeing all the singing and dance performances which many young people showcased and you could tell how much work had been put in to prepare. Of course, the delicious pizza and other treats should not go unmentioned!’’

This anti-vaping campaign and Sutton Youth Summit are just two examples of the leadership and initiative shown by Sutton’s young people. I’m proud of everything they and others are doing to create a safer, healthier community for us all.

Thank you for your efforts and let’s keep working together for an even better Sutton.

Cllr Barry Lewis
Leader of Sutton Council