Ben Wakelin. Photo suppliedBen Wakelin’s contribution to the community has helped paved the way for his future career.

The 18-year-old has been volunteering for Ashburton Scouts since he started high school and has also helped to run the lighting and sound side of things at many school and community events.

Now he is working towards a career in lighting after his interest in it developed through volunteering.

“I have found that I love spending time looking for solutions to making events work well when lighting issues arise, and this has led me to the decision to make this a career,” he said.

“Working towards the community service section of my Queen Scout Award got me motivated and my parents have always encouraged me to be giving of my time.

“I really enjoy setting lighting plans and running them and love to make events special for people.”

With scouts, Ben has helped with the redevelopment of the grounds around the scout park and was recently awarded the Totara Award from Rotary.

He’s on the Staveley Camp committee as well, helping prepare for a large upcoming Scouts and Venturers’ event.

He also spends time helping elderly people with jobs around the home.

“I really enjoy working with other people – both my peers and older people,” he said.

“I love the fact that people are surprised by how well I can do the job and how much difference I can make to their event.

“I have enjoyed seeing the scout park getting finished and trying to make it a great place for more scouts to enjoy – a chance to give back to scouts has been great.”

He said while volunteering makes you quite busy, he would definitely recommend it to other students because you’ll always be surprised what you can gain from it.

“I am hoping my interest and the knowledge I have gained will lead to a professional career in lighting, but at the same time I can imagine myself always volunteering in some form,” he said.

“It’s something that gives me enjoyment and scouts has been so amazing for me that I will always want to give back to them.”

© The Ashburton Guardian - 6 May 2017

Matthew Clough celebrates a big win. Photo suppliedLocal multisport athlete Matthew Clough has been amongst the medals again, this time at the New Zealand XTERRA Championships in Rotorua.

Clough placed first in the open short course category.

“It was my goal to come back home with a medal and that was what I managed to do,” he said.

The course is short only in name, with contestants tackling a 500m swim, a 16.5km mountain bike and 5.5km trail run.

“It was a good race, I came out of the water first and pulled away with another guy on the bikes and followed him on the run until I set my pace and overtook him.”

Clough said that hopefully next year he will tackle the long course event, but will have to wait before any world events due to being too young.

The next event in the Ashburton College student’s sights is the World Aquathlon Championships in Canada in August.

“I finished on the podium last year and would love to come back with a medal again and hopefully improve.

By Jaime Pitt - MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 5 May 2017

Shawn Samuels. Photo suppliedVolunteering for a school holiday programme has been a good opportunity for Shawn Samuels to look at ways to volunteer in the future.

The YMCA Mid Canterbury student recently spent his own school holidays as a youth leader helping to run the campus Breakaway holiday programme for 11 to 17-year-olds.

Activities on the agenda included archery, a mini Olympics, swimming and football played in giant bubble suits.

“Volunteering has given me something to do during the school holidays,” he said.

“It’s all about helping the kids out, getting them to look after each other and support them.”

A keen mountain biker, Shawn said he was able to utilise the skills he learned during his eight years of biking for the various physical activities on Breakaway.

One of the motivations for volunteering was to set a good example for the younger kids on the programme who he hoped would become youth leaders as well one day.

“I’ve really enjoyed it and enjoyed teaching the younger kids,” he said.

Shawn hopes to become a truck driver when he finishes his study and is keen to look at how he can incorporate more volunteering into his future.

YMCA South and Mid Canterbury manager/community and youth development Poppy Cooper-Vear said she was proud to have some of her students sharing their time by volunteering on the holiday programme.

“Everybody’s time is precious, regardless of how old you are,” she said.

“All youth leaders attend our youth leadership course before starting the programme.

“It’s an opportunity to come together as a team and learn skills in conflict resolution, bullying, sport and recreation facilitation, and risk management.

“They also learn YMCA values which are respect, honesty, responsibility and caring.

“We say, ‘be the type of leader you would follow’.”

© The Ashburton Guardian - 2 May 2017