What an incredible whirlwind it has been! If you told me a few years ago that I would be sitting in the Houses of Parliament or opening a national summit in front of hundreds of experts, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. My journey as a Youth Sport Trust Volunteer and a member of the National Youth Sport Forum has been nothing short of life-changing.

Being part of this movement is about ensuring every young person has a seat at the table where the big decisions are made.

One of the most empowering aspects of this role has been the opportunity to chair meetings with key stakeholders across the youth sport landscape. Leading these discussions allowed me to bridge the gap between policy-makers and the young people they serve.
I’ve also had the privilege of speaking at various national conferences. My message is always clear: youth voice is not a ‘nice to have’ - it is vital. If you’ve heard me speak, you will know that my tagline is ‘Nothing about us, without us!’. We cannot design a future for youth sport and physical activity without the input of those who are actually living it. I’ve shared my thoughts on how impactful PE, sport and movement experiences can be a catalyst for change, shaping a young person's confidence, health, and future.

Looking back, two moments stand out as the ‘pinch-me’ moments:

• The Round Table at Parliament: meeting with the Minister for Sport to discuss the future of our sector was an experience I’ll never forget. Bringing the reality of grassroots sport, PE and movement experiences to the heart of government felt like a massive step for youth representation.
• Opening the National Schools Sport and Physical Activity Sector Summit: standing on that stage to kick off such a prestigious event was a huge honour. It was the perfect platform to advocate for the life-changing impact that positive physical activity can have on every child.

While the events have been spectacular, the personal growth has been just as significant. Through the Partnership Summits and the Forum, I’ve developed a toolkit of employability skills that I know will serve me for the rest of my life:

• Public Speaking: finding my voice on national stages.
  Strategic Thinking: formulating ideas and actually seeing them put into practice
• Organisational Excellence: developing the planning skills required to manage high-level projects
• Governance: expanding my knowledge of how sport is run at a national level

Perhaps most importantly, I have made lifelong friends. Connecting with like-minded peers who share a passion for the power of sport, PE and movement has been the best part of this journey!

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of the team behind the scenes - a massive thank you to the Youth Sport Trust for believing in the power of young people. Specifically, I want to thank Ali Oliver, Steph Matthews, Cissy Radford, Gavin James, and Emma Mackenzie. Their mentorship and support have been invaluable, giving me the confidence to step into these spaces and make my voice heard.