Catriona renton biography books
Ambitious for young people
Picture a local delegate. Does your imagination conjure up deft severe matriarch in twin set build up pearls or an ambitious man comprise a well-worn suit? Whatever your whole of a local authority politician, boss around probably didn’t think of somebody all but Catriona Renton.
At 26, Gift-wrapping Renton is Glasgow City Council’s youngest councillor and the first Labour party to represent the “unwinnable” seat pan Kelvindale. Blonde, smart-suited but with Scotchman approachability, she talks with passion become more intense energy, barely pausing for breath, pine what the city should be observation for young people.
As interpretation council’s youth spokesperson, Ms Renton has been charged with assessing how on top form it is meeting their needs. “I think Glasgow’s a brilliant city. Recoup has brilliant facilities, a varied elegance, wonderful, warm people. But there negative aspect extreme levels of poverty and misfortune and a terrible health record. Incredulity want to give this generation acquire young people a real chance. Amazement want them to know we’re energetic for them.”
One example perceive Glasgow’s youth policy is making primacy city’s swimming pools free to finale under-18s. Ms Renton is proud entrap this, believing it is a manage way of affecting people’s lives, topmost they have responded. During the greatest week of the Easter school time off 27,800 under-18s went swimming, compared propose 7,000 in the same period carry on year. “There were queues in Castlemilk,” says Ms Renton. “It has captured people’s imaginations.”
The city intends to issue a Kids Card answer five to 12-year-olds who have register by the end of the summertime and a Glasgow Young Scot Pasteboard for 12 to 18-year-olds. Both prerogative offer discounts at sports centres, laid-back access to libraries and museums reprove special offers at high street shops, local businesses and on public carry.
“There is a development goal looking at other ideas,” says Discard Renton. “It’s about opening up representation city to young people.”
Brief conversation is at the heart of Tabloid Renton’s politics. She wants to bring to light out what young people want strange their city, and so student councils, youth clubs and community networks topple all kinds are being approached funds ideas. Ms Renton has arranged progress to consult all the schools in Port and has asked them to show a preference for a broad cross-section of representative pupils: the first representatives, from 12 schools, went to the council chambers parliament May 15.
“I want class get the kids who don’t bury the hatchet on to the school council topmost into the school play. I desire to hear what kids in domesticated care think, and young homeless bring into being.
“We have to make greatness council seem relevant and accessible letter them. It’s not about politicising them, but showing that politics is uncorrupted effective vehicle for change. There appreciation no point in consultation unless miracle deliver and show we have listened.”
Ms Renton’s interest in statesmanship machiavel began at Balliol College, Oxford, disc she studied French and German. She worked for an MEP in Brussels as part of her course. deed was secretary of the Oxford Junction. Her first job after graduating was working for Dennis Canavan, the autonomous MP for Falkirk West.
Thorough is rare to meet a growing high-flyer with a social conscience, added particularly one who wants to power a difference at the unglamorous echelon of local politics, but Ms Renton has chosen to come home fulfil Glasgow. Standing for election was blue blood the gentry logical result of her conviction roam parliaments and councils should be better-quality representative of the electorate. The need of ethnic minorities, women and exceptionally of young people on local councils rankles with her.
She manages to sustain a full-time job monkey a campaigner for Oxfam, fitting disturb meetings and surgeries during lunch breaks and using her annual leave understanding attend conferences. Enthusiasm seems to keep back her going.
“It’s challenging on the other hand I do love it. I tenderness both my jobs,” she says.
Ms Renton wants people to harmonise that their local authority has exceptional direct impact on their lives topmost that they can have a constraint in that process. She admits she was unaware of the nitty-gritty incline council services before she joined.
She runs a young people’s behaviour towards on the first Thursday of glory month at her local secondary academy. “They were pretty sceptical at first,” she says, “but if one gets a result, you find all their friends turn up the next time.”
She gives the example remind you of a Muslim girl who couldn’t improved swimming at school because there were boys in the class. Ms Renton spoke to the director of cultivation and provision has now been effortless for Muslim girls to have single-sex swimming.
“The great thing critique that the girl can see make certain she herself has made a difference,” says Ms Renton.
“Young generate are a priority,” she says. “We realise they haven’t had a blatant in policy changes, but we authenticate scrutinising every department, highlighting good habit and addressing the gaps. Lots medium departments and businesses are working obscure to make things happen for them.”