Wandsworth has two new mayors: councillor Sana Jafri has been chosen to be the new Mayor and, in a first for the borough, 17-year-old Millie Quinn has been named Wandsworth Youth Mayor.
Councillor Jafri – previously deputy mayor – was chosen by the main council, and Quinn by members of the Wandsworth Youth Council.
Jafri is Wandsworth’s first Pakistani Muslim mayor and is an immigration lawyer. She was born and still lives in Tooting where she works with local youth groups and charities.
The new Youth Mayor Millie Quinn, 17, is a youth councillor and a member of the Wandsworth Music Academy. She is currently studying for her A-levels and hopes to work in human rights.
A release by the council said Quinn is passionate about educating young people about the harm of sexual violence and to promote understanding of young people living with poor health.
“Young people represent nearly 20 per cent of Wandsworth’s population and I believe their voices are needed to make this a more inclusive, innovative and fairer borough. Policies about young people should not be made without us,” she said.
As for Safri, she said: “I’m proud to be the first Pakistani Muslim mayor. My faith will be an important part of my Mayoral year because I want to change the narrative about being a Muslim in Wandsworth. Yes there are some bad people but that’s not what we are – we are taught to look after each other, support charity and do good.
“As a mother I want to be a great role model for my children and I want to show young Muslim women that it’s important for us to be out there achieving. I’ve been through hard times in my life, but it’s been about having focus and knowing what my end goal is.”
