My Life: Emily May, 17, Berrylands

Junior Leaders is a free, two-week summer programme that gives young people aged 13 to 16 the chance to develop their leadership skills and gain experience of working with younger children.

I felt nervous and scared on my first day, but Lez was bubbly and kind, and helped me to join in with the other members of the group.

By the end of the course, I'd helped to run some activities for children on the summer play scheme and quickly realised I was on the path to my dream career.

The course was so good, I returned for the next three summers. I learned important skills such as health and safety, first aid, safeguarding and risk assessments.

But my favourite bit was working with the children, creating play activities and having fun with them.

I was the only junior leader who managed to reach the final year. I had a lot more responsibility and they even trusted me to replace a staff member who was absent.

Now I am working as an apprentice nursery nurse. Junior Leaders gave me the skills and experience I needed to feel confident right from the first day of my job.

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at the YMCA for this wonderful opportunity and a special thank you to Lez for making it such fun.