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Steve Moffatt My name is Steve Moffatt. I’m 18 years old and I’m the only remaining YoUFA Rep for Somerset. I’m also an original member of the YoUFA Reps; starting my journey in 2006. I attended the first UFA Residential at Bockleton Hall 4 years ago and met half of the members of today’s YoUFA Rep team. Spending most of the time in groups, I attended group training activities and learnt a lot about teamwork and how to lead/be lead. This was an awesome residential and left me wanting to be more involved in the UFA. The second, for me was a very good residential for extending my number of lifelong friends as well as advancing my position in the organisation. That’s what I love about the UFA.

I’ve met some of the best people I’ll ever meet and it’s really made me want more so I can see them all again.The next few residentials involved me supporting younger lead learners in organising their clubs in their local setting. These were also extremely fun because

AGE - 18

LOCATION - SOMERSET

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep

Peer Tutor

‘This is my UFA’ residentials

YoUFA Rep

I got to meet yet more people and share my experiences with them, showing them what being in the UFA is all about. It’s been very kind to me and so I want to spread as much of the love as possible so to speak. Being a YoUFA Rep really has been one of the best experiences of my life. It’s taught me an awful lot about life and people and how to lead and set an example to younger people who look up to you.

I’m a very down to earth person who is good at speaking to people and making new people feel at ease when they’re a bituncomfortable. I’m polite, confident, reasonably funny, kind, understanding and a good listener.

I like cars, sleeping, Jack Daniels Whiskey, Cats, Jam and the UFA to mention but a few.I dislike early mornings, wasps and people who disrespect other

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Bobbi Berrow I am wild, bubbly and always smiling! Nothing fazes me and I like to take things in my stride! I love meeting new people and building strong foundations for a lasting relationship! I’d like to think to people can count on me and I always stick to my word! There is proof of this I promise you!

I am born and bred brummy and a very proud one! I enjoy doing lots of different things such as spending time with the people I care about and I am a massive thrill seeker such as extreme activities anything that equals dangerous and risky I’m usually up for it.

My main passion is Music! I live, breathe and dance music its part of my everyday life. I play the flute, flugel horn and piano and I am also hoping to play the saxophone.

I am currently studying ‘Per-forming Musician’ at Access to Music College in Birmingham. I then plan to go to university to study Music Therapy hopefully in September 2011.

I first got involved with the UFA as a participant attending the

AGE - 19

LOCATION - BIRMINGHAM

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep /

YoUFA Board Member

Peer Tutor

‘This is my UFA’ reside-

YoUFA Rep

YoUFA Board

Member

Birmingham Summer Challenges after going to several of these I was then asked to train as a Peer Tutor to work on the Summer Challenges. I was then asked to attend the first ‘It’s my UFA’ residential to develop ideas of how young people could be more involved at the heart of all UFA idea’s and development.

I then went on to be a YoUFA Rep. I am still a YoUFA Rep this year now planning YoUFiestA 2010! My best memory of all residential’s is when we all meet each other and we do that first energiser!

I am famous for some energisers in particular ‘Singing in the rain’ and ‘Alive Alert Awake’ I am happy to do these at every event!

I am also the Vice Chair of the YoUFA Board and feel that as the Board develops it will help continue the development of the UFA and YoUFA. The UFA has done a great deal for me and I hope it continues to change other people’s lives too.

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Ebony Harding One of my favourite things to do is to just relax with my friends and enjoy myself, it can be in any place: the park, shopping or at a party, and I will make sure that everyone is smiling!

When you first meet me, I can come across as quite shy and quiet but once you get to know me, I open up and I’m more able to laugh and joke around with you! One of my main likes is people who aren’t afraid to laugh at themselves or not take themselves too seriously. I really, REALLY hate spiders and heights; I can’t describe how terrified I get!

I have just finished taking my GCSE exams, next year I am moving onto Sixth Form where I hope to study Biology, Psychology, Geography and Religious Studies. I’m really interested in all of these subjects and am actually quite excited to be studying them for the next two years!

The first time I knew I wanted to be YoUFA Rep was during the first Lead Learners residential in 2008. I was new to the whole concept of UFA because

AGE - 16

LOCATION - LONDON

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep /

YoUFA Board Member

Lead Learner Residential

Lead Learner Clubs

YoUFA Rep

YoUFA Board

Member

becoming a Lead Learner was the first kind of involvement I’d ever had and the YoUFA Reps during that residential were so easy to approach and get along with, I just remember thinking that if I can make someone feel as comfortable as they made me, then I’ll have definitely made the most of my time with the UFA.

Being a YoUFA Rep is easily one of the best things I’ve done. I’ve made some amazing friendships, met and worked with the nicest bunch of people and had an overall fantastic experience. Being a YoUFA Rep has helped me come out of my shell more, which is something that has helped me a lot outside of YoUFA and I would recommend being a YoUFA Rep to anyone who wanted to learn new things and have SO MUCH fun along the way!

In the future I hope that YoUFA can reach out to a wider network of young people.

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Inez Sarkodee-AdooI love having a laugh and getting to know new people. I’m bright, bubbly and always try to smile as much as I can.

Some of my friends think I’m a bit crazy but I prefer the term different. I’m an extreme Arach-nophobia, which is basically someone afraid of spiders, eek! I’m a true city girl and love to shop and go out with my mates. I love living in London because there are so many new and exciting things to do that are just a bus or tube ride away. I especially like take taking trips to the West End for some retail therapy!

I have recently completed my GCSE examinations and hope to study Maths, Physics French and History at A level.

I got into the UFA through the Lead Learner Project in 2008. It was such good fun and I have so many good memories from being a part of it. The one I remember the most was falling into a river after failing to build a functioning raft.

Even so, it was still such a laugh! I knew I wanted to become a

AGE - 16

LOCATION - LONDON

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep /

YoUFA Board Member

Lead Learner Residential

Lead Learner Clubs

YoUFA Rep

YoUFA Board

Member

YoUFA rep when I was training to become a Lead Learner because the Reps at the time seemed really cool and fun. I am now glad to be a fully certified YoUFA Rep and hopefully inspiring the next generation of Lead Learn-ers.

Being a part of the UFA has given me the opportunity to work with a range of amazing young people and adults and also to develop myself as a person by gaining many essential life skills.

For example, as the spokesperson of the YoUFA Board, I was privileged enough to represent YoUFA at the NCVYS Young Partner’s Award and put my skills in public speaking into practice.

I’m always excited to see what the UFA has in store next.

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Insia IshajiAGE - 21

LOCATION - BIRMINGHAM

JOB ROLE - Youth Ambassador

Summer Challenge

participant

Peer Tutor

Uni work placement at

the UFA

UFA Youth

Ambassador

I started my journey with the UFA whilst I was at school attending Summer Challenges in Birmingham, I then went on to train as a Peer Tutor working on Super Learning Days and further Summer Challenges over the years. Whilst at University I had the oppor-tunity to complete a work placement and decided it was the perfect opportunity for me to get involved with the UFA again.

Once completing my place-ment at the UFA and then completing my degree I made it perfectly clear I didn’t want my journey with the UFA to end and

jumped at the chance to apply for a job oppor-tunity that came about. In June 2009 I joined the National team as the Youth Ambassador and I love it!

I love meeting new people, travelling, reading a good book, sports, listening to music and anything yellow! I dream that one day I will own a yellow VW Beetle with a sunflower! :)

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Jonelle TellesWell, I’M A HUGE TWILIGHT FAN, but I’m working on turning that obsession down a notch or two. Some people may call me weird due to my liking of all stuff Twilight related, but I just like to call it being a good fan!! I also LOVE music. I can’t do any-thing without music buzzing in my ears. I play the piano; and I can play nearly every Michael Jackson song on it. I used to do some performing arts classes and even was in an episode of the ‘INBETWEENERS’. I like to smile, ever since I got my braces off anyway!! Basically, I just love to have fun in whatever I do, need it be work or even tidying my room!!!

My UFA journey started in the summer of 2008. I started as a Lead Learner and was working with Inez, Ebony and Shaunette. We ran and after school ‘FUN CLUB’ for the year 7’s at our school to help them make new friends at their new school. Most of them are still in their little ‘UFA clique’, which is pretty cool to see, as it showed that we had a very positive impact of them. Many opportunities branched off from being a Lead Learner; by this I mean that there were many

AGE - 16

LOCATION - LONDON

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep

Lead Learner Residential

Lead Learner Clubs

YoUFA Rep

occasions when Karla Bird called us to help out with some of her clubs. That was an amazingexperience as it taught us to work with children of a different age group.

I then decided that I wanted to continue my UFA experience and become a YoUFA rep and I am so glad I did so, because being a YoUFA rep is completely different to being a Lead Learner, as you get the chance to plan that HUGE festival that all the Lead Learners are looking forward to and are working hard for. It’s a great privilege to be part of the YoUFA team as we all work so amazingly well together, it makes it easier for us get masses of work done. We’re so close, it’s like we’re a family. I remember on my first residential of being a YoUFA rep, in august, we were only with each other for a couple of days, but on the last day we cried bucket loads!!! My YoUFA rep experience has just been too amazing for words!!

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Joshua NicholsonI really enjoy working as a team and imputing my own contribution and ideas to help everyone. I am positive when working with others and enjoy the company when learning team building skills. I dislike activities that involve too much, full on theory as I am more of a hands on person.

I have just finished my studies at Chesterfield College studying in Media Production gaining a National Diploma. I come out with three distinctions and have also gained two ABC qualifications in web design and photography. I am also a part time night worker in a bar as bar staff, working from 9pm until 6.30am. In September I will be going to University to continue my studies.

Being a YoUFA rep has helped me greatly with my communication skills; this helps my freelance career in media and also helps with my job. It has helped me become moreindependent and confident; this also helps me greatly as I

AGE - 18

LOCATION -DERBYSHIRE

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep

Peer Tutor

Planned and ran a Summer

School

Led an after school

club

‘This is my UFA’ residetials

do not longer live with either of my parents. Before I became a member of the UFA I was very un-settled, loud and I didn’t often think before saying things. However the UFA has taught me all of the skills I need to get further in life. I am now achieving higher than what most of my tutors predicted in school during my GCSE’s.

As a person I would say I’m friendly, easy going and easy to talk to. I would say I am a worrier but I have always been like that. I am bubbly and full of energy, con-fident in my abilities and not shy when it comes to putting my point across. I am happy most of the time and really enjoy meeting new people and making new friends, that’s why my time with the UFA has been fantastic!

YoUFA Rep

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Katie Piper Well what can I say, I normally love talking about me but when I get told to write it down I am speechless. At the moment I have a major obsession with Tescos and can’t go a week without going there but to add to my obsession, I also did my work experience there, I’m a true fan of Tescos!

My life is never boring and I have been told many times to write a book about it as there is never a dull moment in my life and the drama never stops.

With my exams coming up and the stress of coursework my only advice is to go shopping as it always makes me happy and de-stresses me. Shopping is the only sport I participate in and I can easily shop for hours.

I live in a small city called Norwich and have done all my life; I love this place to pieces but can’t wait to move away and be independent.

At school I study triple science as I look to attend a veterinary collage in the future and one day be a veterinary surgeon.

AGE - 15

LOCATION - Norwich

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep

Lead Learner

Residential

Lead Learner Clubs

YoUFA Rep

My favourite colour is PINK and I love chocolate with a passion. I also love music and festivals and am attending ‘v festival’ this year.

My hobbies include horse riding and scuba diving and by the age of 14 I was a qualified underwater scuba diver and am looking forward to many more dives in the future as I travel around the world very fre-quently.

As a friend, I am a very honest person and you get what you see.

Over the last 3 years I have worked with the UFA and grown as a person, which overall has made me more confident and made me realise I am ‘me’ and that’s who I should always be.

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Kim Davies I am a really energetic person and I love trying lots of new things and making the most of every opportunity.

I love spending lots of time with my friends, whether that is going on a shopping trip, a beach trip or just having a cuppa.

I am in the middle of my GCSEs but I always make time for my friends and family. I am hoping to do English language, French, Biology and Health and Social Care for my A levels in 2011.

I first got involved with the UFA when my form tutor did an as-sembly advertising the Lead Learner project. My favourite part has to be all the residential! They are always such a laugh and all the people are so lovely.

I wanted to be a YoUFA rep because all the YoUFA reps and UFA staff inspired me and I really wanted to be more involved in the UFA because everyone was so lovely and so enthusiastic. So when the oppor-tunity came up to be a YoUFA rep, I applied straight away.

AGE - 15

LOCATION - NORWICH

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep /

YoUFA Board Member

Lead Learner Residential

Lead Learner Clubs

YoUFA Rep

YoUFA Board

Member

UFA events are always so much fun and I get the opportunity to work with loads of great people who I wouldn’t have met without the UFA and I have made so many good friends.

The UFA had helped me to gain self confidence, leadership skills and many other characteristics which make me the person I am today.

The UFA had given me and new and exciting outlook on life.

I am a YoUFA board member now, which I really enjoy. Earlier this year I ran a workshop at the UFA Na-tional Conference and I am always getting involved in new things with the UFA both in school and out of school. I have the best memories of the UFA.

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Kyle Smith AGE - 19

LOCATION - BIRMINGHAM

JOB ROLE - UFA Marketing Officer

and YoUFA Board Member

‘This is my UFA’ residentials

YoUFA Rep

UFA Modern

Apprentice

UFA Marketing

Officer

Kyle is the original party animal, wearer of stupen-dous striped shirts, and always laughing. Kyle is into sports and keeping fit; he is a qualified Body Pump trainer.

Having started UFA life at a Summer Challenge, Kyle was on the original young people’s residential week-ends that began over five years ago. It was in these residentials that the idea for the YoUFiestA was born. Kyle has played a key role in developing YoUFA.

Having been a Peer Tutor on several Summer Chal-lenges and other UFA events, Kyle took up the role of Modern Appren-tice with us and is doing a Business Studies HNC part-time at college.

He has now been pro-moted to Marketing Officer and his cheery good humour around the office is a constant feature of UFA life!

YoUFA Board

Member

Summer ChallengePeer Tutor

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Seren Garner I am a very smiley and bubbly person; I enjoy playing sport and spending time with my friends. I absolutely love meeting new people and leading activities!

People usually think I’m quiet from a distance, but then they get to know me and realise how wrong they were.

I’m a complete country girl and this really comes across when you ask me to cross the road – I have been almost run over so many times; although I’m learn-ing and getting better.

I am about to go into year 11 to do my last year of GCSE’s and I have taken (Maths and English of course) triple Science, ICT, Sports Studies, History, Media Studies and Philosophy and Ethics.

Growing up in the country means I’m not squeam-ish around bugs or anything, however, if I am anywhere near a shark (or even a picture of one) BANG! I’m out the door like that!

I first got involved with the UFA by convincing my new head

AGE - 15

LOCATION - DERBYSHIRE

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep /

YoUFA Board Member

Peer Tutor

Ran Clubs in school

‘This is my UFA’ residetials

YoUFA Rep

teacher in year 5 that UFA would be a good thing to bring into our school. I was then trained to be a peer tutor and it all went on from there.

I’ve been a YoUFA rep for 2 years now and it’s just so fun I absolutely love doing it; my favourite thing about it (along with the actual YoUFiestA at the end of the year) is meeting up with everyone again at the residentials and getting to work with each other again.

I feel like I’ve really grown up with the UFA, it’s helped make me who I am today. I love being a part of the UFA, there are things I never would have done if I hadn’t joined the UFA – I would never have got up in front of 200 people and ran an activity!

Working with the UFA has given me the chance to meet and work with so many incredible young people and I am so grateful for that.

YoUFA Board

Member

START

I started my journey with the UFA back in 2002, unaware what wonders this organization would have on my life. I have been in-volved in very many ways, from peer tutoring, to developing the National YoUFA Website, these are all great achievements of mine.

A highlight of my involvement whilst in the UFA would have to be the day of YoUFiestA ‘09. This was an amazing moment when I could look out and see all these yp getting involved because we had given them this chance to be able to culminate in this big celebration. The festival could have had so much more crea-tion within it and so this was our target for 2010 which I believe will be a success as we have all learnt from 2009. I learnt a lot about myself and other people’s abilities and look back at it as such a wonderful experience that I will never forget! Thank you to the UFA for this opportunity.

AGE - 19

LOCATION - BIRMINGHAM

JOB ROLE - YoUFA Rep /

YoUFA Board Member

Summer Challenge Peer

Tutor

‘This is my UFA’ Residentials

YoUFA Rep

YoUFA Board

Member

Outside of the UFA where I still apply the things I have learnt from being apart of the UFA, I take up activities such as acting, event planning, song writing courses, and many other arts based activities as this is what I have a passion for!

I love to socialize, and to spend time with my family. It has definitely been a struggle at times but that’s just life, and I’ve grown to know that life goes on and you learn more and more everyday about yourself and the world.

My main ambition in life is too become a successful film actress, and I am currently on an independent path of auditioning and getting my name into the industry. I really hope that one day I will achieve this and can then pass on to other yp that you will make opportunities your own success if you genuinely want it!

‘

Shireenah Ingram