THE wellbeing and mental health of children is to be a key focus of the new lord mayor of Belfast.
Kate Nicholl said she would be bringing the voices of young people into council meetings.
An Alliance Party councillor, Ms Nicholl (33) is the first person in recent times to hold the position who was not born in the UK or Ireland.
She grew up in Zimbabwe, but when violence broke out in 2000, her family left and moved to Belfast.
Ms Nicholl last night took her chain of office, succeeding the DUP's Frank McCoubrey.
With her family watching from the gallery, Ms Nicholl said it was an incredible honour.
She paid tribute to Mr McCoubrey who she said "worked with grace and dignity" through a very hard year.
Ms Nicholl said the outgoing mayor was a gentleman, who had shown kindness in the run up to the changeover.
She told the council that the past year, which had been filled with sadness, isolation and loneliness, had been a "humbling reminder of our frailty".
Her theme for the year will be `our Belfast' which, she said, would highlight the community spirit of all areas of the city.
She added that she would focus on child poverty, mental health and how to support those most vulnerable.
"We need to accept our differences, embrace debate and expand on the common ground that is making this city great for everyone," she added.
By the end of her term, she said, she wanted to look back on a more inclusive and welcoming city.
DUP councillor Tom Haire, a prominent member of the Orange Order, was installed as deputy lord mayor.
