Taylor Simmonds

I first found out about Young Devon when I was struggling with my mental health as a teenager and needed some support. A few years later, I was doing better and started using my voice and experience to improve services for other young people; that’s when I found the youth council. I got involved and really enjoyed the sense of community Young Devon gave me. When it was my time to move on from the youth council, I wanted to give back what I had been given and that’s why I joined as a trustee. I hope to help Young Devon continue to give young people opportunities, just like it did for me.

The time I spent in the youth council gave me the confidence to leave my retail job and pursue a career in helping young people. In 2022, I started a job as a Learning Support Assistant in a trauma-informed school and I haven’t looked back since.