A TEENAGER who helped York youth groups access thousands of pounds could soon be named an unsung hero.

Katie Smurthwaite is only 17, but already she influences the shape of York's future.

As well as serving on York Youth Forum and York Youth Parliament, Katie recently spent 100 hours working on a community garden project and represented York College in the Lions' Young Ambassador Award national finals.

Now her proud mother has nominated her for the Spirit Of Youth category in our Community Pride awards scheme.

Katie, of Burnholme, said she began voluntary work when she was 12.

"I first got involved because my mother and I enjoy swimming and when the first rumours started about closing the Barbican Centre we wanted to know why," she said.

"I interviewed Charlie Croft from City of York Council to find out what the future of the Barbican swimming pool would be and wrote an article so other young people would know what was happening."

Katie is York Youth Forum treasurer and has helped set up meetings with councillors to discuss issues affecting young people, such as transport provision in York.

"We also spoke to councillors and local youth organisations about making access and publicity accessible to young people whatever their disability or background," she said. "In particular, raising the issue of large print and audio for visually-impaired young people."

As part of a panel to distribute a City of York Council budget of £50,000 to young people's projects, Katie has helped disadvantaged young people get involved in activities such as skate parks.

She helped to organise and run this year's children's comedy festival and was involved with York Youth Parliament's Postcard Campaign to ask young people what they would change about the city.

She also organised a trip to London to take young people's questions to York MP Hugh Bayley and sat on a Young People's Question Time panel.

Katie hopes to study law at university from September, but will continue some of her work in York.

"I really enjoy voluntary work," she said. "I found the £50,000 fund particularly rewarding because we had an awards ceremony where lots of the groups came and showed us exactly where the money had gone and, although it wasn't our money, knowing we had a hand in deciding where it went felt really satisfying."

Updated: 10:19 Saturday, July 16, 2005