Four female Key Stage 4 and 5 pupils from Cross and Passion College and Ballycastle High School took part in a special ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative on Tuesday 3rd March, as Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council marks International Women’s Day.
Demi Timperley and Aimee Dillon from Cross and Passion College, along with Carragh Rafferty and Jenna Brennan from Ballycastle High School, shadowed the Mayor throughout a programme of engagements across Causeway Coast and Glens, gaining first-hand insight into civic leadership and the role of local government.
The initiative aimed to inspire young women by highlighting pathways into public service and leadership, while celebrating the contribution of women and girls within our communities.
Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan said:
“I was delighted to welcome aspiring future leaders to take part in our ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative as we celebrated International Women’s Day. This initiative was something I was very keen to introduce, and I was pleased to work with the schools to make it happen and give the pupils the opportunity to experience the civic role at first hand.
"I would like to thank Cross and Passion College and Ballycastle High School for taking part and supporting the initiative. The girls who joined us were a wonderful, well-mannered group and were a real credit to both their schools and their families.
"It was a valuable opportunity for them to see how local decisions are made and how Council works in partnership with communities, and I hope the day has inspired them to have confidence in their own leadership potential. As we mark International Women’s Day, it would be good to see initiatives like this continue in the years ahead, helping to inspire more young women to consider roles in civic life and public service.”
The day began at Cloonavin in Coleraine, where the pupils assisted the Mayor in opening a special International Women’s Day event for Council staff. They then attended the Good Relations Schools Darts Competition at Top Darts in Coleraine, meeting pupils from across the Borough and seeing the positive impact of cross-community initiatives in action.
Following this, the group visited the Limavady Shared Education Campus, including St Mary’s and Limavady High School, to learn more about collaborative education and shared learning opportunities. In the afternoon, the pupils returned to Cloonavin for a tour of the Council Chamber and lunch with civic representatives, offering further insight into Council business and democratic processes.
The programme concluded with a visit to the newly refurbished library in Ballycastle, highlighting Council’s ongoing investment in welcoming, inclusive spaces that support learning, growth and community connection. It provided a meaningful end to a day focused on participation, possibility and seeing leadership in action.
The ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative formed part of Causeway Coast and Glen’s Borough Council’s programme to mark International Women’s Day, with a clear focus on inspiring and encouraging young women to consider roles in civic life and public service. By offering a behind-the-scenes insight into the work of the Mayor and the wider Council, the initiative aimed to build confidence, broaden horizons and demonstrate that leadership is both accessible and achievable - ensuring that the leaders of tomorrow are empowered to step forward with confidence and shape the future of Causeway Coast and Glens.
Follow Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on social media this week to see messages of inspiration ahead of International Women’s Day on 8th March.
A pupil from Ballycastle High School pictured with the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, during a visit to the newly refurbished library in Ballycastle as part of the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative marking International Women’s Day.
Four pupils, Demi Timperley and Aimee Dillon from Cross and Passion College and Carragh Rafferty and Jenna Brennan from Ballycastle High School, are pictured with the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Oliver McMullan, during a visit to the newly refurbished library in Ballycastle as part of the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative marking International Women’s Day.
A pupil from Ballycastle High School shakes hands with the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, during a visit to the newly refurbished library in Ballycastle as part of the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative marking International Women’s Day.
Four pupils, Demi Timperley and Aimee Dillon from Cross and Passion College, accompanied by Mrs Anna McKay, and Carragh Rafferty and Jenna Brennan from Ballycastle High School, accompanied by Mrs Heather Dalzell, are pictured with the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Oliver McMullan, outside Cloonavin as part of the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative marking International Women’s Day.
The Mayor, Councillor Oliver McMullan, observes pupils from St Mary’s High School, Limavady and Limavady High School as they take part in a woodwork workshop at the Limavady Shared Education Campus during the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative marking International Women’s Day.
The Mayor, Councillor Oliver McMullan, watches a woodwork demonstration alongside four pupils from Cross and Passion College and Ballycastle High School, together with pupils from St Mary’s High School, Limavady and Limavady High School, during the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative at the Limavady Shared Education Campus marking International Women’s Day.
Four pupils, Demi Timperley and Aimee Dillon from Cross and Passion College and Carragh Rafferty and Jenna Brennan from Ballycastle High School, show their woodwork creations to the Mayor, Oliver McMullan, during the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative at the Limavady Shared Education Campus, marking International Women’s Day.
Pupils from St Mary’s High School, Limavady and Limavady High School show their woodwork creations to the Mayor, Councillor Oliver McMullan, during the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative at the Limavady Shared Education Campus marking International Women’s Day.
The Mayor, Councillor Oliver McMullan, pictured with pupils and teachers from Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle High School, St Mary’s High School, Limavady, and Limavady High School, during the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative at the Limavady Shared Education Campus marking International Women’s Day.
The Mayor, Councillor Oliver McMullan, pictured with pupils from Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle High School, and other pupils at the Good Relations Schools Darts Competition at Top Darts in Coleraine, as part of the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative marking International Women’s Day.
Demi Timperley and Aimee Dillon from Cross and Passion College and Carragh Rafferty and Jenna Brennan from Ballycastle High School are pictured with the Mayor, Oliver McMullan, and the owner of Top Darts in Coleraine during the ‘Mayor for a Day’ initiative marking International Women’s Day.