Council leader says more needs to be done for young people in Colchester
The Leader of Colchester Borough Council says he wants to help young people bounce back from the pandemic in our #LeadersInLockdown interview
WATCH: Mark Cory answers your questions in our #LeadersInLockdown interview.
Colchester Borough Council's leader thinks more needs to be done to help young people.
Councillor Mark Cory, who's a part-time teacher, told us he's seen the impact coronavirus has had on younger people and wants to help them bounce back.
He said: "It's something I care about a lot because of the mental health of young people. Stopping and starting their schooling, not being able to see friends, not being able to learn and not knowing where their future takes them if they've missed out on exams or had predicted grades rather than taking exams.
"I really feel for them."
Cllr Cory wants to see a Youth Zone created in the area to provide skills, support and engagement to help young people get on a "better footing" to help them recover from the impact of the pandemic.
He recognised that Covid-19 has taken its toll on people's mental health over the last year as a result of uncertainty and the restrictions that have needed to be in place.
As we have the roadmap and ongoing vaccination programme, he is urging residents to continue to follow the rules.
He added: "I think we have all struggled up and down during this crisis, being unlocked and locked-down again. The horizon looks good with the vaccines, but we are not there yet. We have to follow the rules.
"Please keep following the guidelines they are for all of us."
You can find out what Mark Cory has to say on other topics such as Freeport East, mental health, rough sleeping and more in the full interview above.