Blog

I have successfully finished a work experience placement at the Children's Commissioner's office which I personally enjoyed overall.

Had to do news reports, reading paperwork, answering phone calls, research, clicking the mouse, using the keyboard, background on the Children's Commissioner. Sounds tiring and seems like typical office work but this is magically sparked with witty conversation, happy smiles, different tones of laughter, meaningful topics and a vibrant environment where it feels like it's your second home.

As a young person who lives in society where it can be challenging but going behind the scenes of this amazing, cosy organisation for a week I have learnt so much about the Children's Commissioner's mission. It is to change the journey of a child and a young person, making sure the rights we have are occurring in reality rather than for it to be sitting down in a book.

Representing a young person as I speak I really enjoyed working here. For anyone who has been invited to come to take on a work experience placement here it's a decision not to turn down or have any second thoughts about. The reason why is because you will be so happy to go away and share your experience to anyone working in a place that is on a mission to help us including children that have a bubbly sprit and an imaginative mind.

I just want to say to Maggie Atkinson, Sue Berelowitz, the Participation team, Corporate Services team, Policy team and Communication team thanks for giving me a brilliant experience that I will be grateful to mention outside in the real world. I would like to end this blog with a line from one my recent poems that reflects the Children's Commissioner's vision:

"Free to blink into paradise, free to paint a world, free to illustrate a dream, all these are expressed through words."

Shantel Cherebin, 18, is pictured with some of the team (bottom right)