Leeds recently welcomed its 2024-2025 Children’s Mayor, Esosa, a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing among young people.
Dressed in her frilly civic robe and chain, Esosa of St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School shared her future plans with Yorkshire Voice. “One of my main ideas is to have a Positive Thoughts Day, where you spend the day being positive and kind to another person.”
Alongside this, her manifesto proposes a designated “Relax and Chat” area in schools where children can discuss their feelings in a calm setting. To tackle mental health issues among young people, Esosa hopes the city of Leeds can introduce mental health resources and access to counsellors in schools.
It’s been a whirlwind start for the young mayor – “I went out for a meal with my family, and at school, everybody was really happy for me”, she said, recalling the cheers she received after showing her classmates her ceremonial attire for the first time.
The Children’s Mayor didn’t waste a second when it came to spreading her message – Esosa spent the summer holiday canvassing to gain 400 votes. “I went to my local park and got loads of my friends and people to vote. I just explained why I’m doing it [running for Children’s Mayor] and what I want to do.”
Esosa’s school in Burmantofts, which was named Leeds’ most deprived ward in 2022, has a diverse student body, with many children coming from different countries. The headteacher, Claire Grady, shared her insight into the school’s journey. “When I came here, the children were so well-behaved, but they were almost too quiet. It’s really important that they know they have a voice,” she said. “We are such a diverse school, and I think it’s important that the children know about the opportunities in our city.”
Since joining the school five years ago, Claire has made it a priority to ensure students understand their rights and feel empowered, with school council trips to the Civic Hall as part of an ongoing effort to encourage civic engagement. The school hosts an annual Career’s Fair and several other opportunities to celebrate the diversity in the school, “I feel it’s my duty to set those dreams and ambitions for the children”, Claire explained. “We’ve got really high hopes for all of our children.”
Although Esosa’s tenure as Children’s Mayor has only just begun, there’s a buzz around her potential. Her role will involve attending civic events and representing the young people of Leeds, alongside the Lord Mayor. As the headteacher put it, “When the Lord Mayor is the number one citizen in Leeds, then Esosa, as far as I’m concerned, is number two.”
As for her future, Esosa’s aspirations reach far beyond her current role. “It would be nice to become a counsellor and know that I’m doing something for Leeds”, she shared. “But I still have time [to think].”
When asked what she does when she isn’t being the voice for the children of Leeds, Esosa responded with a smile: “Most of the time I’m just a normal child, I play with my brother and do my homework. I have to go to school still!”