Barbara Soetan, who has worked with Changemakers as a Young Advocate for the advocacy stream, as a Youth Leadership Team member for the Big Challenge and who is currently working as part of our leadership programme at the Local Government Information Unit, will be taking part in the nerve-wracking finals of the Third Sector Young Thinker of the Year at the Lancaster House Hotel on the 23 June 2009.

The Young Thinker of the Year is part of the Young United Kingdom and Ireland programme, designed to develop new talent in the workplace and the community. Entrants are between 19 and 32 years old. Barbara was put forward for the award by Changemakers.

Barbara comments: “I am delighted to have been chosen. Changemakers has a good reputation so I think the fact that they nominated me stood me in good stead. And to win would be just overwhelming! I have never won anything in my life. I’ve done such a variety of volunteer work, and I’ve really enjoyed it all and learned such a lot. As the competition involves public speaking I am viewing it as practise, because I am hoping that my future career might involve quite a lot of that! I’d like to give a voice to all the people that do all kinds of youth and volunteering work but aren’t given the opportunity to shout about it.”

Adam Nichols, Chief Executive Officer of Changemakers, comments: “We have been incredibly impressed with the energy and commitment Barbara displays in her volunteering. She’s an invaluable member of the Changemakers youth team and we wish her all the best in the competition.”