Personal Profile - Andrew - Florence Brown Community School

Andrew is one of a family of nine, six of whom have been through the school. He has moderate learning difficulties. Now 18 years old he is still involved with the school through the Young People`s Community Club.

Andrew was involved in many of the projects described in the article, including the composting, the community garden and the Millennium Volunteers project. He has steadily gained in confidence as he has derived success and a sense of self worth from the projects he has completed.

Recently he received a 200 hours Millennium Volunteers Certificate for time spent working as an organiser of the Young People`s Club. He took on the role of tuckshop manager with responsibility for buying stock and accounting for monies. He did an extended work experience at a local cash and carry whilst at College. He was able to buy damaged stock cheaply which he then brought into the tuckshop to sell. He has helped to organise the weekly programme of activities and planned a camp for himself and his peers.

There is a real sense of being a team amongst the Millennium Volunteers group. They have in turn mentored a second group of less able young people in order to help them achieve their 100 or 200 hours of volunteering.

Andrew spent two years at college doing general studies and is now employed by the South Bristol Reconstruction Company providing garden restoration services. It seems quite likely that he was inspired by his experiences in local studies and related projects. It is certain that he became known to the company during his active citizenship project.

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