Alison Goldsworthy

I was born in Pontypool and lived in a small village in South Wales for most of my first decade. My mum taught at the local primary school, which my brother and I attended, whilst my Dad was a bank manager in Newport. Occasionally I still meet people who he helped get a mortgage to buy their first home.

When I was nine, my Dad's job took us away from South Wales, to the Forest of Dean. I spent six years there attending local schools before coming back to Wales to study for my A-levels at Monmouth Girls School.

Neither my Mum nor Dad was especially political, though they did always vote. I was always interested in what was happening in my local area and around the world. I can remember ambushing my local MP, when they came to visit my local primary school to ask why the Government wasn't doing more to help those suffering in the Balkan War. The MP looked a little shocked at the interrogation from a ten year old! Spurred on by my political contact I wrote to John Major, the then Prime Minister, to ask why there wasn't a way people who were not old enough to vote could input to the political system. The response I received from his secretary, that I should be concentrating on my studies and preparing for the next term in the holidays, not worrying about current affairs was enough to put me off Conservatism for life.

I always try to remember how I felt, when as a young person I was ignored and brushed aside, and try to engage as many people as possible in politics.

After finishing school I took a GAP year, working in a computer games shop and studying at a High School in Southern Indiana. I continue to have a knack with computer games to this day, something which frustrates my partner when I beat him on his games console.

Whilst I was in America, my Dad died from skin cancer, a disease he had first had 4 years earlier. The support I received from my host family and exchange sisters was brilliant and I remain in contact with them to this day. My Dad's death brought me even closer to my own family. Later that year, I helped my Mum move back to the small Welsh village we had left years before, and always missed. By this stage she had set up her own successful business teaching teachers and writing science text books to be used in primary schools. I have fond memories from my childhood of many weird and wonderful experiments going on in our house!

In 2001 I set off to study Business Administration at Bath Univsersity. By this stage I had been thoroughly bitten by the politics bug. I joined the party aged 16 and others encouraged me to run for positions in the Lib Dem's Youth and Student wing LDYS. By the end of my first year at university I was running the whole organisation. At 19, I was and remain the youngest person ever to have held this position. Looking back it was quite an undertaking, but my year was a success with the organisation playing a key role in the party's stance on the Iraq war and the campaign to stop tuition (and top up) fees. I spoke at Conferences all round the UK and Europe and managed a big budget whilst somehow continuing to achieve good grades at University. At the end of my term I started to base myself in Cardiff, having fallen in love with the city.

During my degree I worked in every holiday to remain financially afloat. I spent six months helping in Ed Davey MP's Westminster office, worked as a local government administrator and helped the Welsh Lib Dems write their 2004 election manifestos. In 2004 I was chosen by my University to study abroad in the Czech Republic with four other students. The five of us had a great time exploring the country and managed to find the time to club together to write a dissertation on Prague's potential to hold the Olympics. We received a first class mark for our work. Whilst I was in Prague, my brother called me to say I was going to be an aunty, a role I have loved, though my nephew seems to grow up very quickly.

I graduated in 2005 and after temping for neighbouring Lib Dem AM, Jenny Randerson I found work as the Policy and Campaigns Officer for a leading disability charity. In October 2006 I was promoted to become their Campaigns Manager across the UK, working to break the link between disability and poverty. I had long had an interest in disability issues, having designed an award winning website about disabilities with two friends in America whilst I was at school. Over the years, I have contributed considerably to the party's policy on macroeconomics, education and most recently for better support for victims of rape

I try to find the time to do things outside politics. My family and friends keep me grounded and when I have the money I enjoy horse riding and travelling, putting my rusty French and German to good use. When Wales are playing rugby I put all my energy into willing them to win - and sometimes it works!

I have an online Facebook profie - you can add me here http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=502419759