Rochdale's UN youth ambassador Alison Greaves receives £1K boost from council

Councillor Janet Emsley with Alison Greaves

Rochdale teenager Alison Greaves, who is set to be the UK’s only youth delegate to a United Nations conference has received a £1,000 grant from Rochdale Borough Council to fund her trip.

Alison had been saving up her wages from her job as a bartender at the Regal Moon in Rochdale town centre to pay for the once-in-a-lifetime chance, aided by a grant and donation from her church group.

However, the 18-year-old now has the £1,200 she needs to completely fund her flights and accommodation, allowing her to concentrate on representing young people’s views on good health and wellbeing during the UN’s winter conference, working with other delegates on the UN’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Rochdale’s cabinet member for culture, health and wellbeing, Councillor Janet Emsley, who broke the news of the grant during Alison’s lunch break, said: “Alison is a very impressive young lady. She cares about the world, is prepared to act on her principles and has worked extremely hard to achieve her funding target independently, which is why we felt she deserved some help towards her goal. Our intentions are not entirely altruistic, however, as we have asked that she presents her findings from the UN to the borough’s young people once she returns from New York.”

Alison, who lives with her parents in Passmonds, said: “It’s been really tough saving for this trip while preparing to leave for university, so this money makes a huge difference.

"I’m passionate about recycling and the environment and I’ve been speaking to children and young people around Rochdale to get an understanding of how they feel. That’s what spurs me on to represent their views at the UN.”

Alison will spend three days at the UN headquarters from 1 February, and will return to deliver a presentation to young people in the borough with the help of Rochdale Youth Service.