BUDDING politicians have set out their manifesto for the future after being elected to serve on the Essex Young Assembly.

Seventy-five young people from across Essex came together to shape the future thinking of the county’s more senior decision makers.

Cutting crime and drug dealing and persuading young people to quit smoking are top of the list forRochford representative Leah Fernie.

Leah, 13, is joined on the assembly by Liam Rose, 13, Fraser Johns, 14, and Charlie Hammerton, 14, all from the Rochford district.

Leah said: “I think we need to look at the number of young people smoking and taking drugs as well as crime.”

“Having this assembly is a great thing for young people.”

Another teenager doing more than usual to improve the lives of young people is Cathryn Vallance, 16, from Burnt Mills, Basildon.

She goes to Guides, helps out at Brownies and even volunteers at a youth club for children with special needs – and all this while trying to fit in a childcare course at college.

Given her background, Cathryn wants young people of all abilities to get the same treatment. She explained: “I want to make sure they are listened to and given the same opportunities I and others have. They should be more involved in things.”

The elections for the assembly, which is now in its fifth year, took place at schools, youth groups and district youth parliaments.

The current delegates will serve for two years and were introduced to the corridors of power, even getting to take their seats in the main council chamber, at County Hall in Chelmsford.

County councillor Keith Bobbin, who represents Pitsea, said: “It is so important to get these young people involved for our future generations as, at the moment, politics has a bad name.

“We need to get the message out there to young people that it isn’t bad and that they can make a difference.”

The assembly members took part in workshops and activities throughout the day to introduce themselves to each other and learn the ropes to get their political careers up and running.