I have a passion for helping young people and creating positive change in my community. I started volunteering in 2016 as a peer educator with OPEN. I then started volunteering as a peer mentor and started to work with them part-time in 2019.

In 2021, I took on the role of organisation development lead. In this role, I have worked alongside young people aged 16–29 to turn our organisation into an independent, youth-governed charity. I provide support and coordinate training for our young trustees to help them govern our charity effectively, develop their skills, and grow their confidence.

I also started a new role alongside this one in April 2023 as the young survivors practitioner with the Compass Centre (formerly Shetland Rape Crisis), where I am currently carrying out research to better understand the needs of young people in Shetland when it comes to receiving support from our services. After this has been completed, I will then go on to provide support for survivors.

My dream is to become a qualified counsellor and be able to help young people with their mental health and well-being. I had a really hard time when I was younger and would not be where I am now if it weren’t for the supporters I have had in my life. Positive connections can be really powerful, and all young people deserve to have positive relationships, particularly when life feels really hard.