Last week, Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) welcomed young person Jaime Merson on placement from SHMU. The placement was part of a Positive Transition programme to help young people gain confidence and find employment. Here is Jaime’s story.

“I am part of the Positive transition course at SHMU. The course is 12 weeks long and as part of this course each of us go for a week work experience – I was delighted to be offered a place at AFC Community Trust. I was pushed out my comfort zone quite a lot but I’m glad I was, now I know I can do small tasks that I used to struggle with like speaking on the phone – before that it was a nightmare. On my first day I was taken to a sheltered housing accommodation called Berrymoss Court, hearing people stories of where they went to work after school and where they grew up was really interesting, I loved seeing all the old photos, it’s amazing how well they have been kept all this time. The programme is called Alternative Therapies and they help older people who stay there get active in the housing complex.

On Tuesday, David, Iain and I went to Torry medical practice for a meeting with people from the NHS and others. In the meeting we discussed putting a stand in the downstairs waiting room of the practice advertising what activities we hold and a suggestion box so we can take in ideas for new activities. Before this interview I told David I couldn’t speak in groups of people I don’t know, but part of this meeting was going round the table and introducing ourselves and say a bit about where we are from and why we’re there, when it came to my turn I managed to speak in the group and told them I was on work experience and that I was from SHMU. I felt really good about myself after the meeting.

On Wednesday Me and Tommy took the morning sessions of Technogym, and apart from Tommy’s Hannah Montana album playing through one of the sessions, I really enjoyed myself. All the participants put us to shame, they didn’t even break a sweat after a whole hour! My legs are still feeling it! After the Technogym sessions me, Iain and Marion (AFCCT volunteer) went to Hazelhead to visit Denseat Court sheltered accommodation. Normally I would have moved about the tables trying to speak to as much people as I could, but this time I sat for the whole hour and a half with these 4 ladies who were just amazing, definitely going back to see them 1 day!

On Thursday Me and Tommy went down to walking football in Torry, I didn’t take part but I enjoyed being there, after that Me, Dean and Tommy took a new age Kurling session, in this sessions we created a “golf course” where there was red circles on bits of paper and we had to get the Kurling stones on to the red circle, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and enjoyed the cuppa at the end even better. I was the photographer for the day and took lots of good pictures until the camera broke taking a picture of Dean.

On Friday, Dean and I went to Warehouse Gym and met with Kerry. We joined Jayne Boyle from Aberdeen City Council too. We all got a tour of the gym and the building, and all the facilities there. We talked about how AFCCT, Warehouse Gym, and City Council could work in partnership to help keep people healthy. I did some research about Warehouse Gym before we went so I knew more about them. I learned they allow older people and people living with dementia access the gym for free. As AFCCT work with people with dementia, they are trying to help as many people as they can together.

Overall, I am really glad I was able to join AFCCT for the week experience. I learned that I can speak on the phone (thanks Steven), I don’t like meetings but I was able to join in as I had done the research. I find it easier to speak to older people and also I enjoyed working with older people more than I thought I would. I am more confident at talking in groups now, and I have had loads of fun while working. The highlight of the week was playing New Age Kurling with the over 65s which was fun to see older people enjoying themselves so much. I would like to thank everyone at AFCCT for inviting me for the week, for helping me gain new skills, and for giving me the opportunity to come back and volunteer in the future.”
Jaime Merson – age 16 (and better music taste than Tommy)
 
David Smith, Senior Community Projects Officer said “Jaime has done so well during the week. Everyone at AFCCT commented on how much she has grown in confidence. We are delighted it has been such a positive experience for her”.
Brian from SHMU said “I met up with Jaime this morning and she was raving about the placement. I have not seen such a huge smile on the face of a trainee in a long time. She told me she was volunteering and she is extremely excited about it. Thanks you for the opportunity and it is moments when she was smiling and telling everyone in the room about what she did that remind me of why we do what we do.”