Ava Haymonds appointed as new CEC Youth Board Member

We are excited to announce Ava Haymonds as our newest Youth Board Member. Ava joins Rylie as our second current Youth Board Member, following the footsteps of Ife, Mohammed and Lizzie.

"I’m incredibly excited to be the new Youth Board Member at The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC). For me, this role is an opportunity not only to work with an organisation committed to making a real impact, but also to amplify the voices of young people in national conversations about careers education. I hope to represent students from disadvantaged backgrounds and ensure their experiences are reflected in decisions that shape the opportunities for young people across the country. 

I joined CEC as a member of the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) just over a year ago, and my time with the organisation has been thought-provoking and deeply rewarding. From speaking to government ministers on behalf of the CEC to working collaboratively with my peers providing feedback on national programmes, I have seen how seriously the organisation takes the youth voice. It is clear that the organisation is committed to listening to and uplifting young people, which makes me proud to take on this new role. 

I originally applied to join the YAG because I believe strongly that high-quality careers education has the power to transform young people’s life chances and to facilitate social mobility. Growing up in the North East in a single-parent household made me acutely aware that the opportunities available to young people are not always equitable, particularly when it comes to access to guidance, networks and information about future pathways. This has also made me deeply passionate about ensuring that all young people, regardless of their background, have access to the support and information they need.