A NEW scheme is being launched to give disabled young people in Herefordshire more of a voice.

The Young Person's Network is being led by 20-year-old Cameron Wood, from the Whitecross area of Hereford, who has had cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus since birth.

The network been designed for young disabled people aged between 11 and 18 and will give feedback to Herefordshire Council with any issues that the group feel need to be changed by the council to improve the quality of their lives.

Mr Wood, a former Whitecross High School pupil, said: "I am really keen to involve all young disabled people aged between 11 and18 years of age in this new and exciting project. I am keen to stress that we are also interested in hearing from those young people who struggle to have a voice within their local communities as I feel that the project would allow them to gain that voice that will be listened to.

"I am keen to make sure that the Young Person's Network project is a success across our county has Herefordshire Council have given my project their support since we began to develop this idea and for that I am extremely grateful."

Mr Wood said the group of young people involved in the network will meet on a monthly basis to begin with at local secondary schools and the council offices and once the project is well established it will meet twice monthly at the same locations.

The network plans to visit all of the county's secondary schools over the next couple of months to talk to students interested in becoming involved.

Mr Wood said: "The reason why I have decided to develop my idea into a reality is because when I was aged between 11 and 16 there was no project such as the Young Person's Network project and because of that I felt unable to have an equal voice just like my peer groups.

"I am hoping that this project can change the lives of these young people now and for generations to come and leave a lasting legacy for the disabled teenagers of Herefordshire for years to come."

Anyone aged between 16 and 18 years of age who is interested in getting involved or finding out more information about the project can email ypnplead@outlook.com