I love doing anything active, so I thought becoming a young inspector would be perfect for me.  It sounded like a great opportunity and I knew it would look good on my CV.

I had to take part in three days training before my first inspection. The training  was fun because I got to improve my participation, interview and survey skills with other people my age. Everyone was so nice and I made friends on the very first day.

When I got to inspect for the first time I was feeling nervous and excited. A mix of emotions really. I observed police stations and health clinics. We interviewed staff about how they worked with young and disabled people and we suggested ways they could improve. 

The best thing about being a young inspector has been going out and talking to other young people about their experiences with different services. The hardest thing was probably interviewing staff because I didn’t have much experience. It’s much easier talking to people your own age, but I got used to it after a while. Even though what you’re doing is quite serious, you have fun doing it. One day my friend was recording an interview, but she didn’t know how to use the recorder properly. She ended up deleting the interview!

It’s also taught me not to judge people straight away -  sometimes people are nicer than they look! I've had an amazing time and I've even gained an ASDAN qualification.

Amy, 14, from Peacehaven

Find out more at Youth4U - Young Inspectors