Nicola Lawrence, projects and business support officer, Winchester City Council.

At school, I was interested in health and wellbeing, and did health promotion at university. That included a focus on young people and one of my placements was at a school.

- So when it came to getting a job?

My first major role was as community planning officer at Hart District Council in Hampshire. Part of that involved setting up Hook Youth Council, which I really enjoyed. It attracted me to the next job as services for young people co-ordinator at Woking Borough Council.

- More work with a youth council?

Woking was pretty switched on regarding involvement of young people and embedding their views. The youth council was part of that but not all of it. I was promoting engagement of young people from all parts of the community.

- Why the move to Winchester?

I liked the fact that this was an all-encompassing role, combining children, young people and health agendas. Winchester was also just setting up a youth council, so I liked the fact that I could be in at the beginning.

- Have you done any further training?

I plan to start a degree in childhood, youth and community studies. I'll be able to go straight to the third year and will be looking to top up the knowledge I've gained through work. I'd like to stay in the sector.