Private School News

Bedford Modern School student is part of International Youth Project

Bedford Modern School Year 13 student, Garry Hendry, has been chosen to join an International Youth Project as part of the E.U. Youth in Action initiative. The programme will involve Garry spending a week in Spain, learning how to organise, market and recruit for voluntary organisations.

“I have been involved with the International Youth Project, working with YouthCast for the last two years,” said Garry. YouthCast is something that Garry initially helped set up through the Youth Action network, with the purpose of providing new media skills training for young people in Bedfordshire. The training takes places at external organisations, recent examples being Connexions and Luton Council Groundworks.

“My role is that of general adviser and media trainer. I create, plan and edit audio and video podcasts. I have always been interested in the media and was delighted to be able to combine this with my youth action work. I first joined the School’s Youth Action programme when I was in Year 10,” he added.

Between 1st and 7th March, Garry will be travelling to Isla Cristina, in Spain along with representatives from several other organisations across Europe. “The invitation to take part in the EU Youth Scheme really came off the back of my Twitter marketing on YouthCast. Everyone participating in the European scheme will come together at this event to discuss issues affecting young people and how it affects them.

“Problems may include poverty, drugs and homelessness and we will be looking at ways to solve these issues through media solutions. Media solutions apply through advertising, marketing and giving people the tools they need to express themselves. This is an exciting opportunity to meet young volunteers from all over Europe and is sure to assist my personal development,” said Garry.

Whilst at Bedford Modern School, Garry has also been involved in re-developing the School’s Outreach website and designing a new website for the Development Office. After taking his A Levels this summer, Garry intends to study Advertising and Marketing at Bournemouth University.

Dr Andrew Rowley, Community Service Organiser at BMS and School Chaplain said, “Garry has worked very hard for Youth Action at Bedford Modern School over a number of years. He has made a commendable contribution in a number of ways, including inspiring and supporting younger students in their voluntary work. This project sounds made for him.”

In 2005, Garry also launched his own radio station. This is a small on-line community station that operates during half-term and school holidays. The station provides a blend of music, chat and general discussion topics and can be accessed at http://radio.gazzainc.co.uk/

Photo: Bedford Modern School Year 13 student, Garry Hendry