• School Leadership Days
  • 11 September 2008
  • 13 September 2007
  • 14 September 2006
  • 14 September 2005
• Working With A Charity
  • The Second Rank Fellowship Charities Evening
  • Charities Evening Report 2006
    • Attending Charities
    • Photos
• Recent CAP Reports
  • Ross Jenkins
  • Hannah Partridge
  • Farzin Mirshahi
  • Archie Wardlaw
  • Robert Sharpley
  • Sarah Potts at the Ellesmere Youth Project
  • Daniella Smith at All Saints Normanton Youth Project
  • Josh Williams at the Hope Family Centre
• Earlier CAP Reports

Alex Gostling - Rank Foundation Community Action Placement

Over the summer holidays it was an honour to work with VSU in Tonbridge. As part of my two week placement I was involved in many different activities which developed and reinforced many of my skills. For the first week I was part of a summer week club which started at 9am and finished at 5pm. Throughout the week the club - which was comprised of children of all abilities – had many different and interesting activates which the children would not otherwise experience. For example we had a visit from the local police officer and a trip to the local fire station. My role was as a volunteer/staff which involved me leading the children in games and activities such as arts and crafts. This week was very rewarding not just because of the fact that I was providing fun and enjoyment for the children but at the same time I was making new friends and developing my own personal skills.

For the second and final week of my placement I was working on a residential summer club which was comprised of six disabled children and involved me camping in a lodge with the rest of the club and was without a dought a highlight of my summer. Along with the team of volunteers I cooked, coached, lead games and activities and helped organised outings such as a trip to Hastings. The message from the manager of the club was that the volunteers were in charge of the week, this involved us running the week and its entirety. By the end of the week of games, outings, camp fires, adventure courses and groups discussions we had build a strong bond with the children and the sense of reward was enormous.

Throughout the week I was very much involved in leading the two clubs, whether that was managing the group of volunteers or the children within the club itself. Throughout each week I constructively participated within both clubs and gained a real sense of achievement from the whole experience. I made new friends, built upon existing skills and most importantly had a chance to work with some very gifted people. All in all a very rewarding and worthwhile experience and a highlight of my summer.