Gimme shelter

A young person tells how he successfully campaigned for a new bus shelter

'My name is Ashley Fernandes and I go to St Mary's College on Cranbrook Avenue.
From Cleveland Street, near where I live, I catch a bus to school and have used this bus stop for three years.
When my next door neighbour started The Groves Neighbourhood Watch I began to think of what could improve our area and came up with the idea of a bus shelter.
At the first neighbourhood watch 'kids' meeting' I put my idea forward in front of everybody including our local councillor Adam Williams.
Then I spoke to Hull Youth Council to get advice about how I could make things happen and I decided to do a petition.
I designed the petition myself and started going round the houses to collect signatures, and the neighbourhood watch group designed a leaflet which was sent to everyone in my area to raise awareness of my campaign.
One day, when I was walking to the bus stop, I saw a strange metal thing on the ground.
I thought it was something to do with work underground, but when I turned the corner the next day I stopped in my tracks as there it was – a bus shelter.
The feeling that came over me was weird and I thought the area now has something to remember me by.
In the next meeting everybody was congratulating me and the feeling was amazing.
But it wasn't all down to me – there are other people I want to thank:

• Jo Cobley from Hull Youth Council for supporting me all the way
• Sean Tierney from The Groves Neighbourhood Watch for making the leaflets and holding kids' meetings
• Cllr Adam Williams for his support
• everyone who signed the petition

It is totally worth getting involved, it might sound silly but in this world us kids seem to have much more power than adults.
So if you have anything on your mind, try, try, try.
You might not have another chance."

info

If you have any ideas or issues you would like to campaign on in your local area contact Hull Youth Council on 585297 or email hullyouthcouncil@hullcc.gov.uk