Young people elected 21-year-old student Rosina St James as Chair of the British Youth Council (BYC), at the charity's Annual Council Meeting this weekend.

Watch Rosina's first speech as BYC Chair:

 
Rosina, who replaces outgoing Chair Liam Preston, was elected by young people representing youth organisations in the BYC membership ahead of fellow candidate Ben Mallon. She will be joined on the Board by newly-elected officers Dan Derricott (Vice Chair of Finance) and Carly Walker-Dawson (Vice Chair of Participation & Development), alongside Dara Farrell who was re-elected as Vice Chair of Campaigns and Communications.

Watch Liam's leaving speech:

 

The 2012 BYC Annual Council Meeting, held in Cardiff on Saturday 1st September, was the charity's most highly-attended meeting to date, with more than 180 young people from 48 youth organisations taking part including the NUS, The Prince's Trust, Girlguiding UK, The Scout Association, Young NCB and Centrepoint Parliament. Alongside electing to vacant posts on BYC's Board, delegates also debated and voted on what should be included in the BYC Manifesto for 2012-14, with restoring face-to-face careers advice, supporting equal marriage, better access to training for young people and stopping police privatisation all making the cut.

Rosina, who is currently studying for a Social Policy with Government degree at The London School of Economics, has spent the past four years as a part time youth worker in Croydon. She has served on the BYC Board as Vice Chair of Participation & Development for the past year and is also a trustee for vinspired. She said:

"Ultimately, BYC is about young people. So we need to provide and create more youth-led opportunities to get all young people's voices heard.

"We often talk about the hard to reach but we actually need to reach harder. To integrate the young offenders, the young carers, the socially excluded, the disengaged and disaffected young people. Those who struggle with mental health issues, and generally young people that have lost hope, belief and self esteem to name but a few. So, that all young people can have a voice and be inspired to influence and impact their communities."