Meet the 19-year-old green candidate for Stroud elections

Cate James-Hodges, aged just 19, is the current Leader of Stroud District Youth Council and winner of last year’s Stroud Town Council Young Person of the Year award.

Her roles on SDYC have included Principal Member for Environment, British Youth Council representative, member of the 2030 Community Engagement Board and member of the Local Strategic Partnership.

She decided to stand for the district council after being approached by the local Green Party, whose coordinators were impressed with her work on SDYC.

Cate admits she’s unusual in being so involved in politics, as so many of her peers are disengaged from politics.

She said: "“They are so drained, so exhausted with the world, so angry about injustice.

"They find it all overwhelming and their attitude can be ‘what’s the point?’

"Then there’s the fact that many young people simply don’t know how to get involved in politics.”

It's estimated that fewer than half of under-25s vote, and Cate spoke on this subject on April 11 at Stroud Brewery’s event designed to encourage more people – especially young people - to register to vote.

She said: “Young people don’t always feel that their vote matters because we don’t have proportional representation. 

But that’s something she will try to change as a district councillor.

“I want to engage with people – especially young people – and empower them to see the positive impact they can have on their local community.

"I want to ensure under-served voices are heard more often and that they have a bigger say in key decision making.”

If elected, Cate would like to help SDC achieve its aim to become carbon neutral by 2030 and further improve local biodiversity.

"She would also like to see more council-run recreation facilities, and measures to improve safety for residents (especially women).

She believes that despite her relative inexperience she will make a good councillor.

“My voluntary work has given me valuable public speaking and communication skills, experience of being an elected officer, and a detailed understanding of how organisations operate and make policy.

"I have also gained experience in connecting with, and helping, individuals and groups in the local community.

“During my five years on Stroud District Youth Council, I have been to council committee meetings alongside elected councillors and presented at main council.

"In some ways I have as much experience of how the district council works as some candidates who are much older than me.”

Cate has been interested in environmental issues since she was at primary school and got interested in politics after joining SDYC.

“That really directed my interests in a more political direction. I developed an interest in social issues, the disparity between what people want and need and what they’re given.”

Cate says her parents are very supportive of her political activities, being interested in politics themselves.

Democracy needs more young people, she says. “Local politics needs a mix: people from different ages and backgrounds and with different perspectives and causes.

"Having that breadth of representation means good things get championed and pushed forward that might otherwise never happen.”

Cate will be campaigning in Stroud Central against older Labour and Conservative candidates and she says that’s daunting in a way.

But she added: “It’s not my job to worry about the other candidates.

"My job is to do my best, work hard and let the voters decide.

"That’s what democracy is all about. Voting power is in the hands of the people so you have to be the best you can be and hope the voters trust you to make well-informed decisions that benefit the community.”

She added: “I hope that my youth, energy and ideas - and my knowledge of how the council works - will benefit me.

"Residents often tell me they want a change from the stereotype of local politicians, and I would certainly be a change from that!”

Cate has a day job as a waitress, alongside volunteering for a local charity. In her spare time, she enjoys art, gaming and running.

She is also learning Italian, Japanese and German and likes growing fruit and vegetables.

Labour’s David Drew and the Conservatives’ Susan Cursham are the other candidates for Stroud Central ward.