Young Sheffield councillor shortlisted for national award just months after being elected

Labour councillor Nabeela Mowlana, who was elected in Park and Arbourthorne ward in May, was shortlisted for the award which recognises hard working local politicians across England and Wales.

There were around 400 nominations across five categories.

Coun Mowlana grew up in the ward she represents and became a youth worker in the city following her studies at Sheffield Hallam University where she was the welfare and communities officer at the students’ union.

She said: “To be nominated for this award within months of being elected is incredibly humbling, especially as there are many hard working young councillors across the country.”

The average age of councillors currently stands at 59 as young people face barriers such as conflicting time commitments from work, studies and young families as well as financial pressures. The award recognises councillors aged 30 or under when they were last elected.

“Young people are often discounted in politics,” Coun Mowlana said. “When we push for policies that would drastically change the lives of people in our communities, we’re regarded as too naïve or too idealistic. Everyone deserves to have access to decent homes, decent jobs, and decent services. This is the bare minimum and we shouldn’t have to settle for less, which is why I will always speak out on behalf of Park and Arbourthorne residents. Representing my home ward is a huge privilege, but it is also a responsibility I take seriously.

“As this Tory government continues to cut public funding and devastate communities like mine, I will continue to work with colleagues, trade unions, and community organisations to make sure residents have the support they need to deal with this cost of living crisis.”

The awards took place on Thursday, October 20 in Bath and councillor Mariam Dawood, from the London Borough of Newham, won Young Councillor of the Year.

The full shortlist and results can be found here: https://lgiu.org/workstream/lgiu-ccla-cllr-awards-2022/