They often say that children are the future.

But sometimes it feels like we don’t have a say in that future: in shaping our school system, the services that we care about, and the community that we live in.

My name is Kameca Gayle. I’m 17 years old and I’m currently studying my AS Levels in philosophy and ethics, sociology, and business studies.

I’ve been asked to write about some of my experiences and some of the pressures and challenges that young people face in Oxford today, hopefully to inspire you to take part in a public consultation that’s currently taking place to define the support that young people receive in Oxford.

One of the biggest issues that young people face today is around mental health.

Some of these pressures and triggers are probably the same that my parents faced when they were at school: family, relationships and school work.

But I think there a lot of new pressures created by technology, like online bullying, that adults just don’t understand well enough – and these can have a massive impact on the happiness and health of young people.

I think it’s because of this that sometimes it feels like young people’s mental health issues are missed by adults, or are dismissed as simply issues around behaviour.

However, sometimes it also feels like there isn’t enough mental health support offered to children and young people, or that there aren’t enough teachers to properly help.

I think the main problem, though, is that children and young people often just aren’t listened to by adults and sometimes, when we are, our views aren’t given enough respect.

I really think that just because we are young, it doesn’t mean we should be spoken down to.

Employers and the education system could do a lot more to take our needs into consideration, allowing us more choices to make a career for ourselves.

Every young person is different, and young children face different pressures and challenges than teenagers, and I think more needs to be done to better understand these different needs and situations.

By better understanding our needs by having really open conversations where children and young people speak truthfully to adults, organisations can tailor services, won’t waste money unnecessarily, and services can really help young people with the challenges that we face, which will help with issues around crime and anti-social behaviour.

I think, for example, that there needs to be more tailored support to help support girls and young women to take part in sport and physical activities, as well as support to encourage both able- and less able-bodied young people.

There are already some really great organisations in Oxford that do listen to young people and tailor their services, so I think it’s partly about just sharing ideas and what works best.

In my spare time, for example, I volunteer at my local youth club, Leys CDI, which is a really supportive organisation for young people in Blackbird Leys.

Every young person I know wants this help and support.

They want to be safe, healthy, go to good schools, have a safe place to live, and have safe and clean parks and youth centres.

Most of all we want a real chance to work towards our dreams.

After I finish school, for example, I want to get an NVQ qualification to become a chef or get a degree apprenticeship in marketing.

Children and young people are the future of Oxford and I know that a lot of us have so much potential, but we need to be listened to, we need more opportunities, and we need more support.

That’s why it’s really good that Oxford City Council is listening to young people to write its Children and Young People Strategy, which will help define how the organisation works with children and young people going forward. It’s also great that, alongside services that prevent issues, the strategy aims to include and engage with children and young people about the services they want.

If you’d like to take part in the consultation, which is open until 5pm tomorrow, please visit www.oxford.gov.uk/candypstrategy.