Article 12 of the United Nations' Rights of a Child states that children and young people have the right to be involved in decisions that affect their lives.
Children's Champions and Deputies are elected to speak on behalf of children from all over the borough of Rochdale and work to improve lives and services for children.
Our Childrens Champions
Our 2024-2025 Children's Champions Maisy Heaton (Heywood and Middleton) and Harry Milne (Rochdale and Pennines) worked hard on policies like:
- Improving parks and providing more football pitches across the borough of Rochdale
- Providing more youth clubs and getting more people involved in the community
- Improving mental health support
- Stopping children from being punished during lunch and break times
Elections take part in schools and youth clubs across the borough. Find a youth club
Apply to be a Children's Champion
We're looking for our next Children's Champions and Deputies for 2025-2026.
- Who can apply: you can apply if you're in year 4 or year 5 of school.
- When you can apply: you can send us your application between Monday, 24 March 2025–Friday, 9 May 2025.
- How to apply:
- Download our application form
- Print and complete our application form, your parent or carer will need to fill in part of the form.
- Send your application form to Rochdale Youth Service, Matthew Moss Youth Centre, Matthew Moss Lane, Rochdale OL11 3LU
- If you need help completing any part of our form, get in touch using the contact details on this page.
If you're shortlisted, we'll get in touch to invite you to our interview day at Matthew Moss Youth Centre, 10am-1pm, Monday 17 May 2025.
Roles and responsibilities
Children's Champions need commitment, lots of energy, enthusiasm and time to work hard in getting children’s voices heard.
If elected, you would need to:
- Support, listen to and represent the Children’s Council, making sure all children Boroughwide have a say and get answers to any questions or issues they may have.
- Work with the Members of the UK Youth Parliament to help improve the lives and services for children and young people and attend special events with them.
- Attend and lead meetings for Rochdale Borough Children’s Council, who meet once a month on a Saturday, 10am–12noon at Matthew Moss Youth Centre.
- Be reliable and passionate about children’s rights and work to get this message to children across the borough.
- Take time to progress with your manifesto points and meet with key decision-makers.