Michael Mines

Active Student - a volunteer's experience

Business Studies student Michael Mines volunteered through Active Student at the Brighton youth club Positive Futures on their skateboarding project.

"I decided to get involved in volunteering when I noticed an Active Student poster at the Falmer campus which featured a skateboarding project. I chose this opportunity because I was interested in skateboarding and used to do stuff like this before in Reading at the sports centre where I used to help out at. I was also new to the area and wanted to meet other skaters who lived in Brighton.

At the Positive Futures skateboarding project we have to set up all the ramps, then supervise and support the young people in their skateboarding. We deal with people ranging from 10-16 years old and also give them advice and leaflets on drugs and alcohol awareness.  

In October, through Positive Futures, I will be doing drug awareness training which will be helpful to me when I am giving the young people information on these issues. From this experience I have met loads of young people. It’s great to be able to encourage and teach them to skateboard. This has developed and built my communication skills and confidence. It can be challenging because there are no manuals on how to teach skateboarding.

I am currently volunteering for 3 hours a week, sometimes it’s more if there’s an event, but generally, it’s easy to fit in with my course.

This opportunity has been rewarding in that I have learnt a lot about Brighton and the people here. I have been able to get involved in other stuff too such as campaigning for a new skate park. I have got to understand how the council works and how policy is put into place, then how this structures society.  

I am currently putting together a film of all the young skateboarders at the project which will give them a chance to perform some of the tricks and techniques they have learnt.

I would recommend Active Student, I think that you get a lot out of this experience and you get to meet lots of people and add something to your CV."