It's been another busy year for the Schools' Programme at HEYCU and we certainly couldn't do it without our fabulous team of Learning Experience Leads! This month, we shine a light on them and get to know them a little better...
LEL Alan
What was your favourite memory from this year?
I have many from all different experiences! Many times I hear 'this has been the best day ever' or 'this has been the best trip I have ever been on', but it's always great to hear a child when visiting the Houses of Parliament saying that was their favourite part of the trip. This can be a surprise as it overtakes the fun stuff, such as WonderLab, but does prove the value of the educational side of our experiences.
What is your favourite experience to lead?
Kip in a Ship because this is a huge life experience for many children. There are often a lot of firsts: travelling on a train, visiting London, sleeping away from home... It's lovely to see them gain so much confidence and trust during the two days.
A fun fact about Alan...
Alan's favourite colour is green because he loves the different shades you can see at different times of the year!
LEL Andy M
What was your favourite memory from this year?
Getting to Buckingham Palace for a photo just in time to see the King driving past! It was a really special moment for the children and they didn't stop talking about it.
What is your favourite experience to lead?
This would have to be the London visits. I really like seeing how the kids react to being in such a big city and starting to imagine all the opportunities open to them.
A fun fact about Andy...
Andy's favourite cartoon is 'Bluey' - you might spot his Bluey lunchbox (a Fathers' Day gift from his three girls) on his trips!
LEL Kath
What was your favourite memory from this year?
I led a Kip in a Ship trip and a child with SEND came along. He was so excited about the trip and asked so many questions at the pre-visit. On the ship, he was selected to wear the captain's hat. My lasting memory is the massive smile on his face - he was so excited and proud to be wearing the hat! At the end of the trip, he came up to me and told me it was the best thing he had ever done. He thanked me and told me he would never forget. I had tears in my eyes - moments like that make all the hard work worthwhile.
What is your favourite experience to lead?
Edinburgh. This is because I know it is going to be a challeging experience for the children - carrying all their belongings, the steep hills they have to climb, sleeping on a church hall floor... It can be daunting for the children, however, they totally embrace the challenges, meet them head on and proceed to enjoy all of the activities even though most of what they do is outside their comfort zones.
I love Edinburgh and everything that it has to offer, specially showing children the National Museum of Scotland. It is very rewarding to hear children say they love Edinburgh like I do. I do not, however, enjoy my airbed going down...lol!
A fun fact about Kath...
Castlepoint in New Zealand is Kath's favourite holiday destination - she calls it her 'heaven on Earth'!
LEL Keith
What was your favourite memory from this year?
Receiving an award at the dinner. [Keith is an incredibly longstanding volunteer and member of the LEL team for which he was honoured at this year's annual ball!]
What is your favourite experience to lead?
Paintbox because the children love it.
A fun fact about Keith...
Keith's favourite football team is Hull City - have a look at him waving his scarf on our website!
LEL Mark
What was your favourite memory from this year?
Being told by a group of children that they had the most amazing time on their Kip on a Ship experience - one child said it would change his life.
What is your favourite experience to lead?
Kip on a Ship as it gives the children and staff from the school two amazing days in our capital city as well as sleeping on a warship!
A fun fact about Mark...
Mark's favourite subject in school was history - we're certainly not surprised by this as his experiences are full of interesting facts! He has been a LEL for more than 20 years and has been awarded a BEM by Queen Elizabeth II!
LEL Phil
What was your favourite memory from this year?
During a trawling experience, I was explaining the concept of the 'Enough is Enough' drama activity to the children. A young girl interrupted and asked me where I was from. I replied, "What do you mean?" She responded, "You're not from Hull are you?" I said, "No, you are correct. I am from God's country." Her retort...? "Bethlehem?"
Another girl also said (in response to my question' "Who said 'enough is enough?'), "My mam."
What is your favourite experience to lead?
My favourite experience to lead is York because I love history and York is blessed with different historical stories, from the Romans to the Vikings and then the Anglo Saxons. There are also other stories to be told to the children, such as Guy Fawkes, the city walls and the two confectionary giants Rowntrees and Terry's (Turry's if you're from my neck of the woods!). Every street in York has a different tale to be told and the two museums we visit (Jorvik and Castle Museum) are two of the best in the region.
A fun fact about Phil...
Like Mark, Phil's favourite subject at school was also history! Here's what he had to say:
"On all the different HEYCU experiences, history can be found, from the local Trawling and Blitz experiences in our home town of Hull, to visiting other great British cities such as York, Edinburgh and, of course, the capital, London. Being with the children makes every trip unique, and you know these experiences will be remembered later on in their life and maybe they will be the spark that lights the flame in their future life..."
LEL Shaun
What was your favourite memory from this year?
Leading the York trips and shadowing the other LELs as they got up to speed. It was nice to finally get this trip up and running and the feedback has been brilliant. Also, rolling out the Blitz and EcoHub experiences has been a real achievement for the team. Everybody has worked together to make this year a success and it is brilliant to be a part of.
What is your favourite experience to lead?
Tough choice as I love them all! I think Trawling may pip it though - the revamp has made this trip really interactive and the children have such an incredible day. There is always a lot of energy in the room on this trip now, and, in turn, this makes it a lot of fun.
A fun fact about Shaun...
Shaun really enjoys watching different sports. His favourite teams are Hull City (football), McLaren (F1) and Hull KR (rugby).
LEL Steve
What was your favourite memory from this year?
On the walk back from an Ambassadors of Hull experience, one child presented me with a hand made note thanking me for 'the best day ever'. This made me proud and happy that HEYCU can and does make such a positive difference to the children's lives.
What is your favourite experience to lead?
I think the Edinburgh experience is my favourite because it is so different and at a more relaxed pace than London. The children get to go to another country and do lots of activities to make wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. One night at a time sleeping on the floor is enough, though!
A fun fact about Steve...
Steve's favourite charity is HEYCU! This is what he had to say:
"HEY Children’s University is my favourite charity because it gives local children life-changing opportunities they might not otherwise have. It inspires them to dream big, builds confidence, and shows them what’s possible through education and experiences beyond the classroom. The impact is real, visible, and incredibly meaningful."