The Prime Minister returns to NewVIc
Students and staff at NewVIc welcomed Prime Minister Gordon Brown and ministers Liam Byrne MP and Jim Knight MP to the college today (Friday 24 April) as Government plans to expand voluntary work by teenagers were unveiled.
Together with Lyn Brown MP and local councillors Rev. Quentin Peppiatt and Alec Kellaway, Gordon Brown and the ministers talked to students about the volunteering opportunities they are involved in as young people of Newham.
This is the second time that the Prime Minister has visited NewVIc and college Principal Eddie Playfair said: “We were delighted to host this visit. NewVIc students are very active in the local community and the college encourages students to get involved in a wide range of volunteering projects. It’s absolutely right for the government to be making this work a high priority.”
Students impressed the ministers with the wide range of volunteering work that they undertake, from working in the local hospital to helping primary school students with reading. They asked insightful questions and talked easily about the benefits of volunteering.
A-level student Youriy Ichtchouk, who studies economics, law, media studies and sociology at NewVIc, was one of the students who met the Prime Minister. He said: “Volunteering is a great thing to do and meeting someone of Gordon Brown’s standing is an inspiration to do more in my community as my personal goals to see an improvement are being recognised by people at the top. I feel the gap between being a student in east London and the prime minister has been narrowed and options are endless for what you want to achieve”.
Eddie continued: “Newham is not economically wealthy but we are very rich in human potential and diversity. Our students are very committed to developing their community and making a real difference. Our view is that education shouldn’t be purely college based, it needs to connect to the experiences and concerns of the local and global community and so we promote active participation rather than passive learning. Young people sometimes get a bad press. Our view is that young people are a fantastic resource to help us address a wide range of social needs. They’re not part of the problem but part of the solution.”