Youth Council work fires up young Izac

"I wanted to get to know all that Stratford has to offer," says Izac White, junior trainee with Stratford District Youth Council.

Thirteen-year-old Izac, who moved to Stratford recently from Inglewood, says he put his name forward for the position, "to learn about what Stratford has for young people to do".

Izac says he first learned about the position through his new school, Avon Primary School. "We were given application forms to fill out and I was chosen in the first week which was really cool."

While his position on the Youth Council isn't a formal seat, Izac is being mentored by senior member of the group Logan Clarke. "Logan is teaching me about the proceedings and the things that the Youth Council are a part of."

Izac's role as the junior trainee is for six months, "then I can be invited to take a formal seat on the council, which I would really like to be offered".

Projects being undertaken by the Youth Council include an upgrade to Stratford's skate park, "I would definitely like to see some changes made at the park to make it safer and more fun for those who use it". Izac adds that he would also like to see more youth events be held in Stratford.

Sarah Hamilton, the council's community development officer, works with the Youth Council and says the role of junior trainee was established to bring in a younger voice.

"The role has been created so that we can include younger students in council proceedings without the time commitment of a formal seat on the council."