A school pupil said he feels “honoured” to be given the chance to represent Dundee after he was appointed one of Scotland’s Young Ambassadors for Inclusion.
Blake Donald, 16, of the Craigie area of Dundee, is a student at Morgan Academy.
The school nominated him as a potential ambassador for his community work for the Dundee Youth Council, of which he has recently been voted as vice chairman.
The youngster has a deep understanding of the difficulties of inclusion as he has autism. This has spurred him on to help others who have struggled.
Blake is one of two Dundee schoolchildren to be appointed as an ambassador for Education Scotland.
Alyssia Smith, 16, from Braeview Academy, will join him in helping promote inclusion in education.
The aim of Scotland’s Young Ambassadors for Inclusion is to give young people who face barriers to education a voice at a national level.
The young people will also have the opportunity to contribute at a local level in their school, sharing feedback from national meetings.
Blake said: “I am honoured to represent the young people of Dundee for as long as I can. It feels right to me, to help people.
“I’ve been part of the Youth Council since I was 12 and working to help people like me for my whole life.
“I’m very excited. It’s fantastic to be able to help and offer opportunities I have had to fight for.
“It’s been a challenge but I’m doing very well now and I want others to do well too.”
Mum Sharon Donald said: “We’ve always been behind him 100%. We’re very proud with how well he is doing. He has what he has but he’s still doing so well. It’s huge and he’ll be great. He’s such a great speaker.”
David Watt, Education Scotland senior education officer for Inclusion and Equalities, said: “Blake was chosen as one of Scotland’s Young Ambassadors for Inclusion representing Dundee thanks to his positive attitude.
“He has faced complex barriers to learning throughout his time at primary school, yet has shown great resilience in dealing with them and has grown in confidence since starting secondary school.
“His nomination and subsequent appointment as youth counsellor with Dundee Youth Council demonstrated his drive and determination to succeed and his work to make people understand autism has been widely praised, resulting in Blake being invited to attend a meeting with the National Autistic Society.
“We’re looking forward to working with Blake in his role as one of Dundee’s Young Ambassadors for Inclusion. His knowledge, experience and empathy with others make him a great candidate.”