The votes are in and Barking and Dagenham has a new Young Mayor, Joshua Singh-Hill.

Singh-Hill, 16 of All Saints Catholic School will replace Wesley Oparaugo and will be the Young Mayor until February 2020.

The All Saints pupil has been part of the Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum for the last two years and felt now was the right time to stand to be Young Mayor.

“Becoming Young Mayor is an absolute privilege and an amazing opportunity.” 

It was such a close election that each of the five candidates could have won it as two or three votes separated them all, however Joshua came out the winner by one vote.

On being named the Young Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Singh-Hill said: “Becoming Young Mayor is an absolute privilege and an amazing opportunity as it will allow me to help the community from the perspective of a young person and have a positive impact. 

“I am looking forward to working with the Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum to choose a charity that we will fundraise for, I am aiming to raise as much money as possible, with an aim to beat last year’s target of £4770! I am over the moon with knowing that I have the chance to change our borough in a positive way.” 

Last week, he attended the Houses of Parliament alongside the outgoing Young Mayor, Wesley Oparaugo and Barking and Dagenham Chief Executive Chris Naylor. 

His term will run from March 2019 until February 2020 and he will work alongside one of the BAD Youth Forum sub-groups to choose a locally registered youth charity to fundraise for via a public youth vote.

Once the charity is selected the group will choose their fundraising events for the year and will aim to raise as much money as possible.

Joshua will also attend 15 formal events as Young Mayor including Women’s Empowerment Launch and Children In Care award ceremony.

Councillor Evelyn Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement said: “I would like to say a huge congratulations to Joshua on his election and I am looking forward to seeing what he has planned for this year. 

“I am sure he will do some fantastic work raising money for the chosen charity and the young people of Barking and Dagenham.

“On a final note, I want to say thank you to Wesley Oparaugo, who did a fantastic job in his position as Young Mayor and raised a record amount of money for the New Horizon Youth Centre.”