Student Receives National Award

First year Joint Hons student Nicole Roe has been awarded U.K. Youth’s Bronze Youth Achievement Award for her work with Blackburn Children’s University. Nicole is studying English Literature and History at the University Centre at Blackburn College and is participating in the Heritage Lottery Funded Project, ‘WWII East Lancs Childhoods: Sharing Stories, Making Memories’. Nicole organised a ‘design your own planet’ task at an event to commemorate the moon landings, and in November she delivered a ‘Dig for Victory’ activity for the children during the event ‘A Wartime Childhood’. Nicole also worked with the children and residents at EACHSTEP care home where they made bunting, poppies and played games prior to the coronavirus pandemic and the national lockdown.

Nicole says:

To achieve this award, I had to choose two activities and challenges of my own, so I decided to help organise and take part in Children’s University events. I had to record every meeting and activity in order to create a portfolio of evidence to account for 30 hours preparation and activity time.

I believe it is important to take part in activities such as the Youth Achievement Awards and Children’s University as it allows you to gain confidence when it comes to helping organise events.  It also enhances your skills of communication and problem solving. Participating in such activities allows us to gain vital skills for our future, but also helps the children by giving them the ability to gain a broad range of skills, showing them that learning can be fun. It encourages children to see that their education and future is important.’

Project leads Sandra Nichol and Dr Val Jessop said ‘Nicole has worked hard for this award and deserves to have her achievement recognised. She is an important participant in the Sharing Stories project’.

Blackburn Children’s University manager Sara Burton said ‘Nicole has been a vital part of the team both in the preparation and running of the events for Children’s University. The time and effort she puts in is fantastic and, she works well with both the children and adults. She uses her initiative, listens carefully to any instructions and fits in well with all the others that are involved.  Nicole has great dedication and we are keen to continue working with her on our future activities’. 

All events and interviews currently being shared on smallstories.blackburn.ac.uk took place prior to the nation’s COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing measures were followed. All future events have been postponed until they are safe to be held.