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Enter CTDU website

Enter CTDU website

Julie's story, with a word or two from Calum too ....

I became involved with the CTDU when I was a parent helper at my son Calum's nursery. The nursery had a development worker from Living and Learning in Clackmannanshire (LALIC), a post funded by the lottery. LALIC was a Clackmannanshire based organisation. Iyaah from CTDU had come along to help LALIC evaluate their work, and mentioned a course that she was going to be running about becoming an active citizen in your community. This sounded like just the thing I needed as I felt I was a little less confident since having my son and needed an interest to help build up my self esteem as well as my confidence.

On the course, I met so many people from different backgrounds but who had a lot of similar experiences and ideas in life skills to benefit one another. It made me feel like I had a second family, and that if I felt down or alone I could ask them for help or advice.


Julie (some time ago ...)


Then I was asked to join the management board of LALIC and give a younger persons view on the community. It was through this I was asked to talk about my involvement at the nursery as a parent helper, showing some young girls how to make story sacks every Thursday afternoon at the college, making them think what the children were getting out of the sacks. The teacher involved with this project encouraged me to apply for a course on early childcare and education. Two years later I had qualified and had overcome the barriers that I had, childcare being one of them. It was time to look for a job.

It took at least a year but finally I got a job that suited both my future employer and myself. I took a lot of my CTDU active citizen experiences into my job at the nursery. I used the post it process when we were asking not only the children but also staff for their feedback on activities. I have also given some of the team members in my room a little more confidence in speaking up and letting their voice be heard. In the summer of 2006 I was made a room leader, which shows that I can still work part time and gain some promotion.

It has been a busy time, but I still like my Christmas get togethers and meeting up with all the fellow students at CTDU, listening to what they have been up to. I think I would not be where I am today if I had not taken that decision and joined the many people who have been through the doors of CTDU and gained the knowledge that everyone gives.


Julie and Calum 2007
Julie and Calum 2007
Calum (with a CTDU student ) 2007

Hi

I’m Calum and I enjoy coming to CTDU with my mum to see everyone at the get togethers. My mum asked Finlay Robertson (who was gaining some work experience at CTDU) a while ago to help me find somewhere to play football in Alloa. Finlay was very helpful in finding somewhere to go and have a kick about.  I still see Finlay as he now runs Sport First activities in Alloa.

I like meeting up with the kids who come along to the CTDU get togethers and have fun!! Miss you all and a big hi to the other Finlay at CTDU.


Some older photos of Julie and Calum ...