Hello! My name is Mathilde and I have been on the Youth Board for 2 years now, and whilst I am sad to be leaving, I can't help but look back on all my memories with CSSF and tell you why you should join our Youth Board!

I have gained so many memories, friends and experiences from the Youth Board that have set me up with skills for life. One of my first memories with Coram was representing the youth board at the 'What You Will Gala' at the Criterion theatre in 2023. This was the first time the youth board all met in person and safe to say we all got on very, very well. Being surrounded by young people who shared the same interests as me was so comforting and we have always worked so well together to spread the ultimate message, that Shakespeare is for everyone. Another core memory was attending a reception in Parliament representing the Youth Board as part of the launch for our 2030 strategy. I don't think many young people can say that they've been to parliament so this was such a fun and enriching experience that will stay with me for life. Finally, our summit day will always be a day that me and my Coram friends talk about as this is not only when we got to see each other in person again, but also when we met the new Youth Board members who we would be working with over the next year. The day started with some youth board led activities and some meetings on Coram campus with the core Coram team, before heading off to the Globe theatre for a workshop and tour of the theatre which was such a fun experience. I have made so many memories with Coram and had so many opportunities that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

Another great thing about CSSF is our mentoring programme which gives you the opportunity to work 1-1 with the heads of the Youth Board towards a specific goal that you set yourself at the beginning of the year. My goal was to develop and improve my public speaking as this was never a strength of mine, but through the support of the team I was not only able to present in multiple Youth Board meetings, but also our big board of trustees meeting which I never thought I'd be able to achieve and I now realise is such an essential skill to have.

What has driven me most when working with the Youth Board was being able to see the impact we have made on CSSF - whether that's merch, social media or redesigning the festival night to ensure that young people get the most out of their experience in whatever way they choose to take part, being a part of this process has helped me understand the inner workings of a charity and the real world of work. Our average meetings start with a small warm up to get our brains engaged, before going into breakout rooms and working in small groups on the topic for the meeting. After that, we will all meet back in the main room to share our thoughts and ideas which will be recorded and put towards making a difference at Coram. Recently, we have also been working in sub groups to allow for more in depth research on whichever topic we are assigned to (for example I have been working with the Evaluation sub group on how we can use marketing to reach more schools and young people, and also looking at previous impact reports to see what works and what needs to change). Having the experience of actually working in a charity has been unforgettable and has set me up with essential skills for life.

So what are you waiting for? Get your application in today, have your voice heard, and be not afraid of greatness.