Britain in Bloom
Henley has won the regional Britain in Bloom competition for the third year in a row, picking up another three awards at the same time.
The town won the top prizes in the Chiltern and Thames region and in the best community section, Valley Road School pupils also won an award in the schools category for their floral efforts.
External Links |
| The British Youth Council |
henley youth council
Henley is one of the few towns in Britain to have created formally a town youth council. The body operates in the same way as Henley Town Council and represents the views of the town's young people.
Original members of Henley Town Youth Council were chosen by elections carried out in local primary and senior schools, colleges and clubs over two years ago. Membership of Henley Town Youth Council are changed annually, although organisations can re-elect existing members for a further year of office.
There are 32 members at present. Valley Road, Trinity, Badgemore, Sacred Heart, Rupert House and St Mary's primary schools, each one councillor. Gillotts Secondary School, Henley College, Henley Youth Club, United Reform Church, Nomad and Eyot each has two councillors representing them. Two councillors come from other organisations for the young, such as the YMCA and Air Training Corps.
One member has been elected leader of the council and another as town clerk. The work of the council is supported by a youth secretariat and young reporters who attend council meetings and then report its activities.
"The Henley Youth Council continues to be very successful in promoting the views of young people of the town, "explained councillor Barry Wood. "This year they launched the Cleanest School Award, which has had a major impact in supporting the towns efforts in the Britain-in-Bloom competition."
"All councillors feel privileged to represent their organisations on the youth council and have stated that as a result of their efforts they feel much closer to the community."
"They are adamant that the youth council should continue in the future."
Youth offices have received training from the major of Henley and the town clerk and are helped by adult mentors before and after meetings. Adult mentors cannot participate in the meeting.
Meetings are held five times a year in Henley Town Hall's council chambers and mirror the full town council's operation. The meetings are open to the media and public and recommendations made by Henley Town Youth Council can be forwarded to Henley Town Council for discussion and possible action.
Youth Town Council members do not represent any political party.