Cormac inspired to help teenagers

Cormac inspired to help teenagers

1 August 2018

WITHIN two years Downpatrick schoolboy Cormac Savage hopes to have trained counsellors available five days a week in every secondary and grammar school in the area.

The 15 year-old knows that it’s a big ask. But improving the level of emotional support to teens in schools is something that he feels passionately about.

He has made it his top priority as a recently elected Member of the Youth Parliament.

While other students his age are chilling during the summer holidays, the St Patrick’s Grammar School student represents the voice of South Down youth.

Elected in March, Cormac is one of 13 MYPs in Northern Ireland and one of 364 MYPS throughout the UK aged between 11 and 18.

For those who don’t quite understand want an MYP is, Cormac explains: “I’m like Chris Hazzard — the South Down MP — as in the area that he represents, I also represent.”

While he and the other MYPs have no constitutional authority, theirs is a voice that political leaders would do well to listen to. 

“We represent Youth Voice of the British Youth Council and we will lobby the British Government about things which are important to young people,” said Cormac.

“We do this through a consultation process called Make Your Mark, which is the largest youth consultation in Europe where 2.5 million people will vote on the 10 most important issues to them. 

“For example, a winner of Make Your Mark by a pretty hefty margin was voting rights at 16 and that became the Youth Parliament’s big campaign that year. 

“The fact that there’s now an All-Party Parliamentary group with cross-party support from Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrats to support this shows the youth voice will be heard.”

Cormac, the only son of St Patrick’s Grammar School vice-principal Gina Savage and her husband Stephen, spoke at the Youth Parliament’s annual conference in Nottingham over the weekend on the benefits of shared education.

“I’m a great believer in shared education as it’s been a real success in Downpatrick,” he said.

The House of Commons Speaker, John Bercrow, attended the event and Cormac is excited at the prospect of meeting him again in the Commons debating chamber later in November.

“That will be the highlight of my year, I think. I will be sitting on those famous green benches,” said Cormac. 

He says that he’s always been interested in social justice issues and international developments since a young boy.

So when the chance came to put his name forward in the election, he jumped at it.

“I had to make a manifesto video to get elected and I centred mine around mental health because in Northern Ireland there is a £4.8 million shortfall for CAMSs (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) which means that schools are having to pick up the tab,” he adds.

“When schools only get one day paid by the Education Authority, it’s simply not enough. So many schools have to reach into its own pocket to provide this. I want a guaranteed trained counsellor in every school five days a week funded by the Education Authority. 

“I know it’s a big aim but I’ve got two years to get as close as I can to make it happen.”

Cormac believes that getting counselling in school really helps students deal with anxiety and depression and other issues.

“Some students have said that going to see the school counsellor was the best thing for them as they didn’t have to go beyond the school gates.”

He will be very busy between now and November when he personally delivers ballot papers to every secondary school from Downpatrick to Warrenpoint to try to capture young people’s views on their most pressing issues.

“I’m trying to get as many young people as possible to get their voice heard and I’m delighted that Down High School and St Patrick’s Grammar School have agreed to hold their own Democracy Days in school.”

Cormac, from Saul Road, will be studying for his GCSEs next summer and knows that he has a balance to maintain between his MYP role and study.

He hopes to study languages at an American university after A-Levels and has his sights set on working as a diplomat in the future.