Young people are concerned they’re being “left out” of the Covid-19 pandemic discussion, a youth councillor has said.

Lacie Ingram, one of seven people who represent Swale on the Kent County Youth Council, has explained how teens are being affected by coronavirus.

The 14-year-old says people her age are “just as worried” as the rest of the population but fears they are being left out.

“People sometimes look at a very small minority of young people not following the rules and run with it,” she said.

“Most young people don’t understand the terminology being used and no one is really talking to us about anything. It’s as if we are being left out of the conversation that we are trying so hard to be included in.

“The general consensus is that we are scared. Scared to bring the virus home to our friends and family. Most of us have vulnerable people living in our households and we are terrified of bringing it home to them.”

The Minster resident who attends Sittingbourne School explained how the pandemic has made young people a lot more anxious.

Army cadet Lacie added: “Among my friend group we have all made sure that we check in on each other just a little more often.

“As we missed so much school work, it’s a race to try and catch up on GCSE content. Whether we will do our exams or just get them altered in any way is the big question in our minds.Not seeing friends during lockdown has a huge impact mentally on the majority of young people.”

Lacie, who attends Sittingbourne School and sits on the youth council with more than 60 other members, and says the majority of young people she knows are supportive of a vaccine.

She said: “It’s a first step back to normality and finally a light at the end of the tunnel where we can see a way out of this mess. We’ve just got to keep pushing for a few months."

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