The Young Mayor is given a £25,000 budget to spend during his one-year term of office.

He must develop proposals for using the funds, which are then presented to the mayor and cabinet.

Wilf Petherbridge has had plans for the following approved:

  • Young Mayor's Stage and Youth Village at Lewisham People's Day. Young people can perform music, arts and drama activities to showcase young people's talent and creativity.
  • My Lewisham. A series of creative exhibitions providing performance and showcasing opportunities for young people's creativity, it would also enable young people to share their visions of what Lewisham means to them.
  • Tag rugby in primary schools. Will enable primary school children to engage in a new sport to help develop active and healthy lifestyles, particularly addressing issues around obesity.
  • Environmental project. Will encourage young people to participate in debates to understand the importance of and need for taking personal and collective action to tackle environmental problems.

The first Young Mayor, Manny Hawkes, established the following:

  • A series of workshops with young people called Feel Safe, Be Safe, held in schools and youth projects.
  • A guide to services for young people in Lewisham using phone texting as the main format
  • A 10 x 10 cricket competition for primary school children.