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Success Stories
Femi Oguntomi
I came on Community Links’ Community Development course because of a recommendation from a friend. My placement was with Leyton Orient community sports programme and suddenly I realised I can actually use football – my passion since I was young - for helping young people. I was a qualified accountant and studying for a higher course, so the course was useful as a tool to bridge the gap. After it, I had the blueprint for my vision. A few friends came together and set up Discoveryinitiative.com to mentor kids and help them discover what they’re good at. Setting up a new organisation is challenging but I’m working with good people and one of the things we learnt on the course was the power of teamwork. I am the coordinator for sports activities at the weekends and I still work part time as well.
Terry Downing
I’ve been coming to Arc in the Park (a Community Links centre) since I was 4 years old. I grew up here, I remember running home from school to make sure I was one of the first ones through the doors. They looked after me, took me under, kept me out of trouble. When I left school I went to work in a jewellers shop, but it wasn’t for me. I’d always wanted to work with kids, so I asked if I could come back and volunteer. Mike took me on for a year and half, and put me on some courses – I did my NVQ Level 2 (in playwork). They put me on the straight and narrow, so much so that I ended up getting a job here. Now I’m coordinator of the youth club on a Tuesday and Thursday, and I’ve just started my NVQ 3. It’s an ongoing process that I never want to leave. [Watch Terry talking about it].
Manjit Kaur
Community Links nominated me for a Jack Petchey Award because of all my volunteering – I help out with Education at the Squash Club and New Canteen and Forest Gate Youth Inclusion as well. But I have even set up my own little projects within these schemes, with a small group of girls and we have been writing and taking photographs. At Community Links, Candy worked with me one to one, helped me with my CV and gave me opportunities. I am now doing an ‘Introduction to Youth Work’ course and next year plan to do a degree. I wouldn’t be where I am without Candy.
Jason Forde
It was hard to avoid trouble around on the streets. But I felt it was in me to do better. One day, two people from Community Links asked who wanted to make music. I joined in at the Youth House and got a certificate and stayed involved with their activities. I wanted to work – but my CV was blank! Then the youth house offered me volunteering. I became a Young Leader, took diplomas in youth work then became a deputy at the youth house. When temporary cover of running the Asta Centre came up they said ‘Go for it Jason’. I got it and now it’s permanent. I am so grateful to Community Links for giving me the chance when I was young. I’ve got loads of ideas for Asta to reach kids like I was. Already I feel like we are making a difference to young people’s lives.
Terry Hawkins
I had a nice upbringing but since leaving school I’ve had a colourful background, you know what I mean? It would be good to work with troubled young people as I have had similar experiences as them. I am doing a sports leadership course through our S-Team programme in a couple of weeks and I want to set up a football team and teach others, especially troubled youths. After all, everyone deserves a second chance.