Growing up in Camden, Mus often felt disconnected from the decisions being made around his community. Before joining the Community Wealth Fund Youth Panel, he didn't feel like young people genuinely had a voice in shaping what happened in the borough, or that people like him were listened to in meaningful ways.
"I felt like I didn't really have a say on what happens in our local community."
At the time, most opportunities he looked at were mainly for financial reasons rather than because he believed they could create change. Being part of the Youth Panel shifted that, and being trusted with real investment decisions helped him realise his opinions and lived experience mattered in conversations about Camden's future.
Mus described himself at the start of the programme as someone who struggled with confidence and often stayed quiet in unfamiliar situations. Speaking in groups and meeting new people felt uncomfortable at first, but regular sessions with the group slowly helped him come out of his shell. That growth became visible towards the end of the programme, when he volunteered to speak publicly at the Youth Panel celebration event, something he admitted he would never have imagined doing before joining.
The panel also gave Mus a strong sense of belonging. Although the group brought together young people with very different backgrounds and life experiences, he said the space quickly became somewhere people could genuinely connect and support one another, built through weekly dinners and collaborative work.
"Once we come here and we're all together, it's like all of that goes out the park. It's like we're all one team together."
As the programme continued, Mus said the biggest change was in how he began to see himself and his future. Contributing to investment decisions and working alongside professionals helped him recognise his own strengths in a different way, and encouraged him to think more seriously about apprenticeships and employment, beyond earning money.
"Before I joined, I felt like I couldn't do any of this. But now that I've gone through it, I feel like I know myself better now."
Alongside the confidence and opportunities, Mus valued the support built into the programme, particularly the regular one-to-one check-ins with staff and knowing there was space to be heard. The panel became something he looked forward to every week, a consistent part of his routine where he felt able to relax and be himself.
Reflecting on the experience overall, Mus described the Youth Panel as very beneficial and eye-opening. More than anything, it changed how he viewed himself and what young people in Camden are capable of achieving when they are trusted with real responsibility.
"Before I joined, I felt like I couldn't do any of this. But now that I've gone through it, I feel like I know myself better now."
