Patricia Lewsley

Who is Patricia Lewsley?

Patricia Lewsley is the current Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People. She was previously a member of the Northern Irish Assembly, and a councillor in Lisburn.

Born in Belfast, Lewsley attended the University of Ulster before working as a cook and an advice worker. She stood unsuccessfully for the Social Democratic and Labour Party at the 1997 local elections in Belfast.

In 1998, she was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly representing the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Lagan Valley, a seat she held in 2003. During her time as an MLA she chaired All-Party Assembly Groups on Children and Young People, Disability, Diabetes, Anti-Poverty, and Ethnic minorities. On the day the Assembly was suspended in 2002, she had been due to introduce a Private Members Bill to strengthen child protection arrangements in Northern Ireland, by placing Area Child Protection Committees on a statutory footing.

In 2001, she was elected to Lisburn City Council. She was a co-founder of Shopmobility in Belfast and initiated the appointment of the only Disability/Equal Opportunity Officer in local government.