The new mayor for Marlborough is looking to support the town's marginalised youth.

On Monday, May 9, Cllr Lisa Farrell became the town's 712th Mayor in the first traditional Mayor Making ceremony since 2019, where she set out her intentions.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Lisa is determined to shine a light on the need to protect youths.

As she accepted the position of mayor in front of an audience of councillors, former mayors, and representatives of the community, Lisa noted in her speech: “As well as focusing on the elderly people in our community, we should think about the young people during the pandemic.

“They struggled too and were alone too instead of at school. This also affected their mental health and lots of young people have struggled to make friends.

“Some have no confidence or self-esteem.”

Lisa explained that there are some issues which are real, and prevalent within communities, adding: “During my 8 years working with the youth I have learned quickly about drugs, drug dealing, cyberbullying, grooming and phone bullying. This is not easy at any age to deal with.

“This is all new to me, and I hope that young people can continue using the youth centre and we can try and provide support to help them with these issues.

“Our youths should stop suffering in silence.”

Pushing the message that she would like the community to become more interconnected, Lisa also said: “My mission as Mayor is to encourage everyone to open our hearts and care for one another.

“We can spend five minutes a day, listening to one another or helping a friend in need. It doesn’t take long to help someone, especially when you do not know who is suffering.”

This is the second time Lisa has donned the red robe, having served for the first time in 2018.

In thanking fellow Councillors for her election she took the opportunity to give heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who work to support the community and said this would be the focus of her Mayoral year.

Starting as she means to go on, she presented Mayor's Awards to Tia Campbell and Genevieve Hall, who are both young people who have supported her.

Stressing her gratitude towards the volunteers who work to make a difference, she stated: “I want to thank the volunteers in our community.

“These are the people that give up their time to help others, without expecting anything in return… “So, in my year as Mayor, I will do my best to support them in any way that I can.”