A COMRIE teenager is ready to shape the future direction of Scottish sport after being named in an influential national group.

Jessica Barrows (19), a former Queen Anne High School pupil, was selected with 15 others to form the second Young People's Sport Panel, a national platform that represents the voice of young people throughout the country.

A former committee member of Pitreavie Amateur Athletics Club, and youth information charity Young Scot after impressing during two rounds of interviews in a process that attracted more than 200 entries after displaying her talent and dedication to sport.

Having just completed her second year of an Applied Sport and Exercise degree at Edinburgh University, Jessica also runs athletics sessions at Pentland Primary School in the capital as well as working as an athletics coach for Edinburgh Leisure.

She told Press Sport, "The Sports Panel is a collaboration between sportscotland and Young Scot and gives us a bit of power as sportscotland do want to listen to us.

"I'm really excited about the ideas we can put forward and the idea is to encourage kids to get into sport and then stay involved.

"I've just finished my second year at university and the big thing for me has been the dropout rate in sport.

"The university lifestyle of drinking and diet means a lot of people can't be bothered so that is something I would like to focus on, or at least encourage people to eat healthily.

"An early idea I've had is to encourage UCAS to help people find local sports clubs when they are applying to university, which could do brilliantly or flop disgracefully, but I think it'd give people a boost to know there are clubs in that area for them.

"I've been at Pitreavie since I was nine and have seen the club chance and that convinced me to go on the committee in the first place.

"Things happened but we didn't know why and I wanted to know and find out how I could help.

"I was the schools liaison officer for two years, helping organise summer events for the kids, and was on the scottishathletics advisory group which is similar to the Sports Panel.

"I'm very passionate about sport and to see the fun that kids have and the interaction they get is really important.

"With the Commonwealth Games coming up, we have to make sure the information's out there for people to come to taster sessions for different sports as sometimes it just needs for someone to be given a little push.

"It is such an exciting time to be involved in Scottish sport and I can't wait to get started." Louise Martin CBE, chair of sportscotland, added, "I am delighted to welcome the 16 new Young People's Sport Panel members on board and look forward to working with them all.

"The strides which have been made by the inspirational young people who were part of the first panel is incredible and I'm sure the next group will continue to build on this fantastic work."