In a previous blog post, I mentioned we were looking for stories from Young Achievers from previous years and today we had a lovely email from a guy called Tristan Hale who was a winner ealier this decade. Here is what he had to say:
“In 2002 whilst a mathematics student at York University I set up and ran a sports volunteering programme at the university, supporting students to take sports coaching qualifications in return for them volunteering in local schools. I was lucky enough to be nominated for the Whitbread Young Achiever awards as they were then, and even more fortunate to be a runner up in the sport category.
Being a Young Achiever finalist had a massive effect on the course of my life. The recognition of the awards spurred me on to work even harder to support students and sport at the university and whilst it may have had a detrimental effect on my degree, it did make realise that not only did I enjoy sport development but I was actually quite good at it.
The real benefit of the awards was the support and opportunities that were provided after the ceremony. As a direct result of the awards I attended four European conferences and seminars where I not only learnt a lot, I made lifelong friends. It was a great honour to be invited back the following year and thanks to a chance conversation with Lisa Wainwright at the awards ceremony I was invited onto the Sports Innovation Team, working on the Year of the Volunteer 2005. Lisa then went on to write me a reference to for my MSc in Sport Management where my decision to leave maths behind was vindicated by my achieving a distinction and the award for best masters.
I am now Volunteer Development Officer for Northamptonshire Sport, developing volunteers and volunteering in sport across the county. I am also heavily involved in fencing and in January 2009 I became an Executive Director of England Fencing so my time as a volunteer certainly has not stopped.”
It’s great to hear Tristan’s story and it’s a reminder of how important recognition of this kind really is. It has certainly put a massive smile on our faces.
