MERSEYSIDE’S Police Commissioner has announced her Youth Ambassador to represent St Helens on policing and community safety issues on behalf of young people.

Jane Kennedy launched a search for a group of enthusiastic, skilled young people to join her team as Youth Ambassadors in July.

After reviewing nearly 40 applications and following two selection days, the Commissioner has today unveiled the 10 successful applications who will become her Youth Ambassadors for the next 12 months.

The successful applicants are aged between 16 and 22, and represent each local authority of Merseyside.

Each are currently studying or employed in a range of roles, including working as a Vulnerable Person’s Advocate for Merseyside Fire Service and a Young Advisor for St Helens Council.

The new Youth Ambassador for St Helens is 20-year-old Jess Burrows.

She said: “I wanted to become a Youth Ambassador because I want to make a difference in our community.

"I want to be involved in improving the community and ensuring young people’s opinions are took on board.”

The new Youth Ambassadors have replaced the Commissioner’s Youth Advisory Group which ran since 2013.

The role will last for 12 months and was open to those aged between 16 and 24, who live, work or study in Merseyside.

The new Youth Ambassadors will volunteer their time to support, challenge and inform the work of the Police Commissioner, her office and the wider criminal justice system.

The group will meet bi-monthly with Jane and her team and will assist in the creation and delivery of a new Youth Engagement Plan, which they will help to share with other young people by visiting schools, youth clubs and community groups across Merseyside.

Jane Kennedy said: “I’m delighted to unveil my new Youth Ambassadors, who will act as my advisors on youth issues in Merseyside.

“I was bowled over by the quality of the applications we received and the 10 successful applications have all proved themselves be passionate, motivated and determined young individuals who will provide a powerful voice for young people on Merseyside.

"We are privileged to have such an inspiring group of young people working with our office, influencing decision-making on policing and community safety issues at a senior level and ensuring we consider the views of young people as we work to address the key issues which affect them.

“The previous Youth Advisory Group did a great job, sharing their views and feedback with me openly and honestly and providing an effective forum for sharing opinions, but I took the decision to recruit a smaller group of Ambassadors so that the young people involved could take on a more hands on, active role.

“I have no doubt these young people will be real ambassadors for their peers and be a voice for change.”

In exchange for their time on the scheme, the Youth Ambassadors will receive a range of training and development opportunities.