On This Day: Prestatyn teenager earns place on UK youth council
NSPCC ChildLine volunteer Katie Balmer, 17, of Rhewl, was one of just ten Girl Guide representatives from across the country on the British Youth Council.
The organisation has played a significant role in leading the fight against period poverty and female genital mutilation, as well as contributing to the successful campaign against topless Page Three models in The Sun.
Miss Balmer, a sixth form pupil at Denbigh's Myddelton College, expressed her enthusiasm for the role, stating, "I've always wanted to help young people, especially young women, and give them a voice and I'm passionate about politics."
She added, "That's why I applied and the school have been very supportive and encouraged me to put myself forward."
The selection process involved an interview, and she was thrilled to be accepted.
"Now I'm just looking forward to playing a part in working with young people to campaign for change and for issues that affect them," she said.
Having joined the Girl Guides as a Brownie at the age of seven, Miss Balmer currently attends weekly meetings at Henllan Village Hall as a Young Leader.
Additionally, she serves as a switchboard operator for ChildLine in Prestatyn, taking calls from often distressed young people and directing them to appropriate help.
"I don't believe there's enough support for young people with mental health issues and as a Youth Council delegate I want to champion mental health through creating awareness and improving support," she remarked.
Encouraged by her headmaster, Mr Andrew Allman, to get involved on the switchboard, she acknowledged the challenges but felt a sense of purpose in helping others.
Mr Allman said, "Leadership is a very important part of our sixth form programme and we try hard to allow our students to gain valuable experience in preparation for our UCAS programme."
He expressed delight at Miss Balmer's initiative in establishing a pupil monitoring and support system, stating, "It has been wonderful to work alongside her in establishing such an important system to support the psychological well-being of our students."
Miss Balmer anticipated attending her first Council meeting in London once the current coronavirus lockdown ended and hoped to pursue a degree in Politics after her A-levels next summer.
This article was first published in the Rhyl Journal on May 1, 2020.
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