Claire with students at her local primary school
Claire's story
“I volunteer at my local primary school, which I attended when I was younger. I went there for work experience in January 2007 and I thought it was great. I looked forward to getting up every morning and going in and helping out. However, before work experience we had an assembly about volunteering. At the time I was interested, but I couldn’t think of something that I would enjoy at the same time. After one day at the primary school, I knew I wanted to be there even more! At the end of my first day, I asked if I could come back and they were happy to have me! I definitely haven't regretted my decision!"
“I now volunteer once a week and work as a classroom assistant helping various members of the class. I find it amazing how I can learn new things off of them all the time, whilst they are learning off of me too. We were once talking about different cultures and in the one classroom (of children aged around seven years old) there were about 15 different languages that could be spoken. I thought it was brilliant and it really emphasised the joys of working with children for me."
“I have always aspired to being a teacher, but volunteering there has made it a more practical dream and I can see myself doing it in the future."
“Volunteering is most likely one of the best things I’ve done. It has definitely changed my view. I had an assumption that volunteering was something that you wouldn’t want to do but it looks good on your CV or something. Which, yes, it does. But I love volunteering! It doesn’t even feel like I’m doing anything hard at all. I enjoy every moment of it. Every day is different, and I want to continue making those days.”
Claire Tye
A New Start with Bronze
—
The KRAN Riverside Project offers Life Skills education for 16-18 year old unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). The course has boosted the students’ independent living skills, and gradually improved their English. These young people are now living independently within the community.
—
More on A New Start with Bronze
Alasdair's Story
—
With the help of Edge, the independent education foundation, Alasdair was able to realise his ambition to become a diamond-setter.
—
More on Alasdair's Story
Carly's Story
—
BTEC Performing Arts student Carly Cook explains why she chose to study for a diploma at college.
—
More on Carly's Story
Claire's story
—
Claire didn't realise how rewarding volunteering could be until she started volunteering at her local primary school through Worldwide Volunteering.
—
More on Claire's story
Conor Smith
—
Connor Smith, 14, is studying the Higher Diploma in C&BE at the Construction Design Centre.
—
More on Conor Smith
Dan's Story
—
Dan Evans is a 19 year-old from Kent whose life changed when his school joined CCE's 'Schools of Creativity' programme. Dan began to realise he had an interest in dance and this became a channel for his emotions.
—
More on Dan's Story
Fran's Story
—
Fran Matthews recently completed her Bronze and Silver Youth Achievement Awards.
—
More on Fran's Story
Jade's Story
—
Jade was one of the first girls to be referred to South Park Enterprise College because of her challenging behaviour.
—
More on Jade's Story
Janine's Story
—
How work experience in a dental technology lab inspired one student to make it her career, combining paid work with a part-time BTEC
—
More on Janine's Story
Karl's Story
—
Karl Francis has been working with 'Personal Best', using the prospect of working at the 2012 Olympic amd Paralympic Games to allow disadvantaged young people to learn and develop new skills.
—
More on Karl's Story
Kat and the Youth Achievement Awards
—
Kat undertook the Platinum Youth Achievement award which had five challenges, including training, volunteering and taking ownership of a project.
—
More on Kat and the Youth Achievement Awards
Kayly and the Youth Achievement Awards
—
Kayly recently completed her Gold Youth Achievement Award. She says, "From all of my challenges I feel I now have more confidence and have gained new skills". Find out what she did here.
—
More on Kayly and the Youth Achievement Awards
Kyle's Story
—
Kyle joined the South Park Enterprise College in June 2004 following severe bullying in his mainstream school.
—
More on Kyle's Story
Laura's Story
—
South Park Enterprise College's work-related learning programme gave Laura the opportunity to work in a nursery for a year whilst taking a Diploma in child care. At the end of the year Laura was offered a job at the nursery because of her success.
—
More on Laura's Story
Lynne's Story
—
Lynne McAlpine struggled with school until she began the Youth Achievement Awards Scheme.
—
More on Lynne's Story
My Success Story by Jane Berry
—
The Youth Achievement Awards helped Jane gain confidence and find a career path.
—
More on My Success Story by Jane Berry
Niall's story - Salford Lads and Girls Club
—
Niall Armsden has organised weekly activities for more than 200 young people and campaigned to raise £1,000,000 to keep the Salford Lads and Girls club running,as part of his ASDAN Certificate of Community Volunteering.
—
More on Niall's story - Salford Lads and Girls Club
St Benet Biscop School in Lesotho
—
Students from Sutherland School in Shropshire and St Benet Biscop School in Northumberland helped to run a student co-operative conference in Lesotho. Zoe and Charlotte from St Benet Biscop talk about their experience.
—
More on St Benet Biscop School in Lesotho
The Bloomer Family
—
Helen, Sam and Eve Bloomer all left school without qualifications. They have 18 children between them, and already had four grandchildren when still in their thirties. The Innovation Unit's Communities for Learning project has helped to transform their lives.
—
More on The Bloomer Family
Victoria and the Youth Achievement Awards
—
Victoria Murrell recently completed her Gold Youth Achievement Award. She says, "I already had silver so I thought ‘this should be okay’. Boy was I wrong!"
—
More on Victoria and the Youth Achievement Awards