Youth board & ambassadors
Our ThinkForward ambassadors are young people who support ThinkForward’s vision by representing the programme on behalf of their peers both internally and externally.
Ambassadors are responsible for working alongside their peers and their coach to use their voice and experiences on the programme to improve outcomes for all ThinkForward young people. Ambassadors support several internal activities which inform decision making at ThinkForward. This includes programme design, research, evaluation, fundraising, and recruitment of new staff. Ambassadors also use their role as advocates on young people’s rights and issues that are a priority to their community.
Meet our ambassadors:
Nottingham
Caroline
As an ambassador, I will respect everyone I talk to, keep everything confidential, I will make sure everyone I talk to feels confident to talk about anything and I will make sure everyone is having a good time. My strongest work readiness skill is resilience. One thing I would change about the world is knife crime because innocent civilians get hurt for no reason. I also would change knife crime because someone has not only died but someone has lost a child, sibling, or friend.
Rebecca
As an ambassador I will play my part in the community and ensure that I listen to people’s opinions. My strongest work readiness capability is being driven as I want to do well in life. One thing I would change about the world would be homelessness because it should not be something that happens so regularly to people.
Sidra
As an ambassador I will be a representative for ThinkForward and progress to think about everyone's situation and opinion. I will also have the opportunity to have my voice heard for those who are too scared to speak. Being an ambassador shows the significance of how young people can change the world. My strongest work readiness skill is my confidence and my flexibility for critical thinking and problem solving. I’m also good at achieving goals in a short time and listening to other people’s problem/judgment. One thing I would change about the world would be the environment for animals and humans additionally, I would want to develop climate change because not only are animals dying because of things we have (as humans) progressed but animals that were in our childhood books (such as polar bears and tigers) will be extinct.
Reanne
As an ambassador I will support everyone in the community. My strongest work readiness capability is resilience. One thing I would change about the world would be homelessness because it is sad and people should not be living on the streets.
Erica
As an ambassador I will: listen others, take in ideas, work as a team. My strongest work ready skill is: good communication – with peers and with adults. Ability to listen first, process what people are saying and articulate feedback. One thing I would change about the world: make it more difficult for young people (under 18) to buy knives.
Rhianna
As an ambassador I will make sure that everyone has their own say and that no one feels like their opinion is getting ignored. My strongest work ready skill is self-assured. One thing I would change about the world is poverty because there’s not enough support in the community which is causing more people to lose their jobs which will cause them to lose their homes.
Nicole
As an Ambassador I will: contribute to the Social Action Project – working as a team and working by myself. My strongest work ready skills are self-awareness and resilience. One thing I would change about the world is crime and to make the world a safer place.
Kent
Alexi
As an ambassador I will get involved as much as I can. I will be a role model to the people around me and listen and respect other’s opinions. As well as be a voice for other young people while representing ThinkForward. My strongest work readiness skills are most likely resilience and organised. One thing I would change about the world would be how hard it is for people to get help and support with things like mental health. If I could change it, I would want everyone to be happy and the world to be crime free.
Chloe
As an ambassador I will be positive and respectful to other people’s opinions. I will also make sure that everyone around me is doing okay and if they needed someone to talk to, I can be the one to go to. My strongest work readiness skills are good communication, organisation and resilience. One thing I would change about the world would be negativity because a lot of people are negative towards another and I would like that to change.
Ben
As an ambassador I will do my best to help out in situations which are hard for people to talk about even if it is big or small. This could be about their mental health. My strongest work readiness skill is good communication as I've shown this when speaking in JP Morgan which was when I had to make a pitch to 40 young people and also staff. I will need to have good communication skills which will help me speak about the local problems and talk to massive amounts of people. One thing I would change about the world would be how mental health can impact on young people's lives. Because it doesn't only make their lives harder it can also make their school life a lot harder as well with facing their mental health problems every day.
Amelia
As an ambassador I will try my best to make a difference in my community. My strongest work readiness skill is communication. One thing I would change about the world would be to make everyone more open-minded and tolerant.
Sara
As an ambassador I will give positive feedback and try my hardest to help others and change people’s aspects on life. My strongest work readiness skills are good communication and good listening, I feel as though it is very important as an ambassador to hear what people are telling you and to give any tips you may have. One thing I would change about the world is to make everyone happy and appreciative of the things they have in life because we are so fortunate in life and a lot of people take it for granted so I’d love to see a change in people’s happiness.
Kevin
As an ambassador I will change the minds of the people in the world from not helping the homeless to helping the homeless to get off the streets. My strongest work readiness skills are resilience and good communication. One thing I would change is the starvation of the homeless and the loneliness of them.
Chloe
As an ambassador I will try to help as many people as I can, whether it be indirectly or directly. My strongest work readiness skill is resilience. One thing I would change about the world is the continuing destruction of ecosystems and species across the globe because people take for granted the things we have today and seem to forget that even the loss of one species can change an entire ecosystem.
Connor
Firstly, as an ambassador I will show pure dedication and resilience in representing ThinkForward and helping improve youth society as a whole. My strongest work readiness skill is being a good communicator, a skill which I’ve developed during my time on the programme. It’s also a remarkable skill to have whilst being an ambassador. One thing I would change about the world is the amount of hate people show towards one another, we live in a world of beauty and wonder, yet it’s ruined by unnecessary conflict and abuse because of the way people choose to live their life.
Kodie
As an ambassador, I will try my best to make sure everyone feels welcome, and I will be sure to do my best at volunteering. I also want to show the new young people how much they can benefit from this. My strongest work readiness skills are self-awareness, organisation, and good communication, although I am still working on my communication. One thing I would change about the world would be how everyone is going about Covid and those people who are not listening to the rules. I would change that they do this because then we may be able to get our life back quicker and people would not be suffering as much from poor mental health as they are now as they would be able to get some help.
Alexi
As an ambassador I will help those in need of help to understand how to be a good ambassador and help them fit in, also I want to help them love themselves the way they are. My strongest work readiness skill is organisation and good communication, I am always ready and organised for every session, and I like to communicate with new people and make new friends and I also like it when they trust me and ask me for help or need to talk to me about problems that they have. One thing I would change about the world is all the wrong people are doing, for example the crimes because no one deserves to die even if they are mean.
Scarlett
I enjoy writing songs, listening to music, and watching anime.
Danny
As an ambassador I will represent ThinkForward, and help be the voice of the young people! My strongest work readiness skill is resilience! One thing I would change about the world would be poverty since people that do not deserve to live on the street still do so.
Jay
As an ambassador, I will take responsibility for how people view FutureMe. I will help people who want to talk about things have someone who will listen. My strongest work readiness skill is ‘driven’. I always try to do the best in what I do. In the future, I want to run my own business as I am independent and would love to work for myself. One thing I would change in the world would be knife crime. I don't know why people feel the need to carry a knife around, even for protection. We shouldn't have to be like that.
Sadie
As an ambassador I will ensure that everyone feels confident to share their views and also as an ambassador I will also make sure I listen to others and help contribute their ideas in my Social Action Project. As an ambassador I will represent ThinkForward and share all the fantastic things we do. My strongest work readiness skills are resilience and being a good communicator. One thing I will change about the world would be to make people understand that having a mental health issue is not fashion or a trend because I feel nowadays it has become a trend to have either anxiety or depression.
Joba
As an ambassador I will help the organisation to become positive and enthusiastic and help the Medway Community. My strongest work readiness skill is being sociable and being confident. I’m often described as approachable. One thing I would change about the world would be to stop any form of discrimination, no matter who you are.
Bailey
As an ambassador I will work with my fellow ambassadors to help them with their problems and work as a team to work on projects for the ThinkForward team. My strongest work readiness skills are confidence, resilience, organisation and being hard working. One thing I would change about the world would be recycling more because it will help the environment and the local wildlife in the neighbouring communities and towns.
Adam
As an ambassador I will help solve issues and I will be mature when dealing with problems. My strongest work readiness skill is being organised. One thing I would change about the world would be to make more people be made aware of mental health in boys.
London
Tyanna
As an ambassador I will be passionate for community causes. My strongest work readiness skill is resilience. One thing I would change about the world is to stop war and destruction.
Nawal
As an ambassador I will help and support people, whilst standing up for their rights. My strongest work readiness skill is communication. One thing I would change about the world is online bullying.
Elias
As an ambassador I will help change the problems in my community. My strongest work readiness skill is communication. One thing I would change about the world is homelessness and people suffering from hunger.
Uche
As an ambassador I will be committed to roles that are assigned to me and work effectively with my fellow ambassadors and coaches. My strongest work readiness skills are working hard and making sure I am communicating with my peers. One thing I would change about the world is more equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
Tanisha
As an ambassador I will organise an event to give young people a safe space and spend time together and help reduce crime. My strongest work readiness skill is self-awareness. One thing I would change about the world is for schools to have more practical courses for people like me that find subjects with a lot of writing difficult.
Kody
As an ambassador I will bring ideas to the table and show effort in all situations and do my best to bring other’s ideas as well. My strongest work readiness skill is being self-aware of issues and other arguments involving others and what can be helped. One thing I would change about the world is bringing a safer environment for the youth and those who need to be sheltered, from all the violence and discrimination brought about through the generations.
Radwan
As an ambassador I will do good for the community. My strongest work readiness skill is being self-assured. One thing I would change about the world is increased awareness about racism.
Husen
As an ambassador I will use my good computing skills, design creatively and be a team player getting on well with other people with banter and funniness. My strongest work readiness skills are self-awareness and good communication. I would change the world and make peace with each other, treating people with fairness, with respect, and no more violence or terrible things in this world.
Mohamed
As an ambassador I will help people to see the world in a different way. My strongest work readiness skill is resilience. One thing I would change about the world is I’d make sure that everyone is treated equally. I also want everyone to know what ThinkForward do and what we want to do for our community.
ThinkForward ambassadors on the move during a team building activity.