Case Study

My illness is only one part of my story

15 Sep. 2026

At 21 years old, Amanda is keeping an open mind about where her future might take her. Originally from London and now living in Manchester, she currently works at a fast-food restaurant, volunteers for several charities and is an Ingeus Youth Voice Ambassador.  

She is passionate about music, from songwriting and singing to performing and playing guitar, but she also loves cooking and baking and could see herself becoming a chef. For Amanda, exploring those possibilities is part of the journey to finding her career path based on her skills and passions.  

Before joining Youth Voice, however, she felt far less certain about what the future held. 

“I was on the Restart Scheme looking for work and trying to figure out what direction I wanted my life to go in,” she explains. “At the same time, I was dealing with challenges around my chronic illness and mental wellbeing, which made finding work and planning my future more difficult.” 

Her health sometimes affected what she was physically able to do, while a lack of experience created an additional barrier to employment. As a neurodivergent young person, finding an environment where she could communicate comfortably and be herself was also important. 

“I still live with a chronic illness and have challenges with my mental health, and yes, they are part of my life, but they don’t define who I am or what I can achieve,” she says. “I’ve learned that challenges can be part of my journey without becoming the whole story.” 

Amanda discovered Youth Voice after attending the Ingeus RISE residential programme, part of its Restart Scheme. When the opportunity to become a Youth Voice Ambassador arose, she applied immediately. 

“I wanted an opportunity where I was able to speak up, influence things and represent people who might not feel able to speak for themselves.” 

Although nervous when she first joined, Amanda was “welcomed with open arms”. She quickly formed friendships, developed a sense of belonging and found an environment in which everyone was encouraged to contribute. 

Through Youth Voice, Amanda has shared her experiences with professionals and decision-makers, contributed to projects and made connections that have led to further opportunities. It has opened doors to attend external events, namely the Co-operatives UK and National Youth Summit in Birmingham, and the Plug Summit in London. Amanda also helped shape and design ‘Find Your Future Fest’, a jobs fair delivered by Ingeus that was created by young people for young people.  

A conversation at the Birmingham Youth Summit led to Amanda attending a Young Manchester Hackathon, bringing together young people and businesses to co-create tangible solutions for local communities and the future of work. From this experience, Amanda later became one of its ambassadors. It has transformed her view of networking by showing how one conversation can lead you anywhere. 

Those opportunities made available through Youth Voice have helped Amanda develop skills in communication, presenting, leadership, networking, teamwork, adaptability and problem-solving. Arguably, more importantly, they have changed how she sees herself. 

“I can now walk into a room with professionals and decision-makers without feeling like I don’t belong there,” she says. “I’ve also learned that confidence isn’t about never being nervous; it’s about being nervous and still choosing to take part.” 

Amanda believes young people need practical employment support, opportunities to build experience and space to explore their options without feeling under pressure to have their whole lives mapped out.  

“Young people shouldn’t just have services created for them; they should have the opportunity to help create them,” she says. “For me, having a voice isn’t just about being able to speak; it’s about knowing that someone is actually going to listen and take what you say seriously.” 

Looking ahead, Amanda plans to continue exploring music and cooking, gain further work experience and remain involved in opportunities that support other young people. 

When asked how she would describe Youth Voice, Amanda said: “personable, life-changing and empowering.” 

Above all, Amanda wants others living with challenges to recognise everything they can still achieve. 

Amanda’s story is a valuable reminder that a health condition may influence a young person’s journey, but it should not determine their potential. 

“My chronic illness and other challenges are part of my story, but they are not the whole story,” she says. “I believe anything is possible when you put your mind to it.” 

Find out more about Youth Voice and how young people are helping to shape brighter futures.