Ribble Valley youth urged to organise climate change summit this summer

Ribble Valley schools and youngsters are being encouraged to help organise a climate change summit this summer, with support from the borough's mayor and other councillors, including one elected last year aged just 18 while studying A-levels.

Ribble Valley Mayor Coun Mark Hindle is working on the climate summit, earmarked for June, with other councillors including Aaron Wilkins-Odudu.

Aaron, of Whalley, was elected as a Labour councillor last May and was thought to be the youngest councillor in Lancashire, or possibly the UK, at the time. Coun Hindle, who is a Conservative but as mayor is involved in non-political activity during his year of office, highlighted the climate summit at the recent full council meeting. Other councillors involved include independents John Atherton and Ian Brown.

Coun Hindle said: "We are working on ideas for a climate change summit and pulling together an event for about ten schools. I won't be the mayor when it happens [in June] but I will help with planning it.

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A meeting with youngsters was held recently in the borough council chamber at Clitheroe to consider more ideas for the June event.

Coun Hindle added: "We'll be asking young people how they want to organise and prioritise the day, as opposed to us saying how it should be. It will be about addressing the environment. It will be good to get young people involved in an event and topic which characterises many things of importance today. "

Aaron Wilkins-Odudu studied at sixth form college in Clitheroe but was elected to Ribble Valley council last year. He had been offered a conditional place at university in London for a philosophy, politics and economics course. But he request a deferral to focus on being councillor after being elected. He is related to AJ Odudu, the Blackburn star of TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing.

Reflecting on other activity as mayor over the past months, Coun Hindle said he had been really busy with attending events and projects. These included activity to help Ukrainian people who have escaped war and been accommodated by Ribble Valley families.

Coun Hindle added: "I was at one incredibly moving event linked to Ukraine. Around 90 people have come to live here since the conflict began, mainly women and children and a few families. One of the things that struck me at the event was that a young baby, who I first met when I was deputy mayor, is now two years old. That really highlighted how time has gone by since the Ukraine conflict began."

He added: "We also need to remember the Ukrainian men. I'd like to think the war will be over by this time next year. But, sadly, I think that's unlikely. The people who have come from Ukraine to the Ribble Valley are lovely. They are working in all sorts of different occupations and bringing a huge input into the district."

Coun Hindle's interests include education and young people's projects. He supported the Ebeneezer’s café and community centre with facilities for youngsters in Whalley and Billington.

His chosen charities for his year as mayor are Ribble Valley Food Bank, the local Dementia Alliance and Pendle Dogs in Need. The mayoress is his partner, Tracey. He also recently planted trees to mark Ribble Valley Council's 50th anniversary since its creation in April 1974. The council recently announced a £1million funding pot for local projects in connection with the anniversary.