2024/25 Young Ambassador Delivery Team member Chloe Campbell’s YA journey began at the start of S5, following a challenging period of her life. Struggling with her mental health in the years previous, Chloe found herself avoiding school and lacking motivation.
Since then, Chloe has made huge strides and attributes much of her personal development to the Young Ambassadors programme and all the opportunities that have subsequently arisen for her.
We sat down with Chloe to chat through her Young Ambassadors journey and the impact the programme has had on her life.
The beginning
“Before I became a Young Ambassador, my school attendance was really bad, and I had poor relationships with my teachers,” she told us.
“I also felt I had pushed a lot of my friends away.”
One thing that Chloe always found herself turning to, was sport.
"I grew up with sport. My mum and dad ran a local football team that my brother played for. I was travelling with the team every weekend from when I was about 5," she recalled.
Chloe’s passion for sport followed her into her teens when she found a girl’s football team. PE was also her favourite subject and a place she turned to when things felt tough elsewhere in school.
“Even when I was at my lowest, I still loved PE and really wanted to develop my leadership skills in that area.”
It was Chloe’s favourite teacher, the head of PE, who encouraged her to take on the role of Young Ambassador in her school.
“At first I was really unsure and didn’t feel like I was the right fit, but my teacher really encouraged and assured me.”
Chloe attended the Young Ambassador conference at Hampden where she met like-minded young people and was inspired by others’ experiences.
“I felt like I left that event really motivated to make a difference and ensure that no one feels left out in school sport,” she shared.
Making a difference
When Chloe returned to school, things started to turn around.
“Before I attended that conference, I was a really insecure girl. I was moody all the time and was probably quite rude to my teachers.
“But when I became a YA, something changed for me. I felt like I had some responsibility and that my teachers really trusted me.”
This new responsibility improved Chloe’s attitude towards school and she noticed a change in how she communicated with the people around her.
“Because I was actually starting to get on with my teachers, I found coming to school a lot easier and I found myself really wanting to do well,” she shared.
Alongside her own personal development, the YA role allowed Chloe to give back to her school and local community. One of her most memorable experiences was working with a local ASN school, where she ran a multi-sports club for children with additional support needs.
"Seeing them all laugh and have fun, it just melted my heart," she told us.
For Chloe, this experience reinforced her belief that everyone, regardless of their abilities, should have the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from sports.
“People with disabilities are often told that they can’t join in and I really just want to help prove that wrong.
“That experience made me realise that this is what I want to do in my career, I want to help people through sport.”
The next step
During Chloe’s year as a YA, she saw an advert welcoming applications for the YA Delivery Team and jumped at the opportunity.
"I remembered back to my conference at Hampden and really looking up to the Delivery Team members who were delivering my session.
“I didn’t think twice about applying,” she shared.
Chloe was delighted to be accepted onto the 2024/25 Delivery Team and embraced the experience at every stage.
“I absolutely loved the whole thing,” she told us.
“Having the opportunity to lead those workshops and have a real responsibility has done so much for me. I’ve also made some incredible friends.
"I didn’t think I could click with people as much as I did. It was just a really, really good group of young people.”
A whole new world
Reflecting on her journey, Chloe shares that she is now at a place in her life that she never imagined was possible.
“Before I became a YA, I had so little drive and couldn’t see a career path for myself.
“Being a Young Ambassador has opened my eyes to so many possibilities and I have managed to achieve so much in my last year of school.”
At the start of S6, Chloe moved to a new school and shares that her experience as a Young Ambassador helped her integrate with both staff and pupils.
“I took on the role of sports leader and started doing work experience with Active Schools too.
“I also helped mentor the YAs in my school and shared my experience with them.
“That was a great way to get to know people and feel like I really had a place in my new school.”
In her last year of school, Chloe received multiple college and university offers in sporting courses –
something she could have only dreamed of a few years ago.
“I have definitely found myself just sitting and thinking, where did this girl come from?” she shared.
To the future
After much consideration, Chloe has decided to begin a modern apprenticeship with South Ayrshire Active Schools.
“I grew up in a rural area where there were no women’s football teams within 20 miles.
“I never had a woman to look up to in my sport, so I really want to be that person for younger girls.”
From feeling lost and avoiding school to finding herself firmly on the path to a career in sport, Chloe’s journey is nothing short of phenomenal. Chloe found her place in sport and hopes to support and inspire others to do the same long into the future.
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