Community-spirited students scoop unsung hero award (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans students from Oaklands College scoop Review's hero award

2:14pm Monday 14th June 2010 in News By Manisha Mistry

A GROUP of budding students at Oaklands College who came to the rescue of an elderly couple when they were conned by a rogue builder are the latest winners of the Review's Community Gold Award.

The lads, who are studying bricklaying and construction, used skills they acquired during the course by building a new wall for John and Kathleen Turner.

The pensioners were ripped off by a rogue builder who promised to construct a new front garden wall at their Ladies Grove home but ran off with £800 of their savings before starting the work.

Mr and Mrs Turner as well as the students' tutor Andy Rosser nominated the group for a Community Gold Award for their hard work and dedication.

Speaking about the experience, Jamie Smith, 18, said: “It was really good and we all enjoyed it. It did us a world of good because we only work in workshops so it was valuable experience to be able to be in the community.

“It's definitely going to help us in the future and it also felt really good helping the elderly couple.”

The Community Gold Award scheme is run by the Review in conjunction with St Albans solicitors Debenhams Ottaway in a bid to find unsung heroes in the district.

Matthew Heyes, another student in the group, praised his teachers for helping him and the others gain real-life experience.

The 17-year-old added: “It was fun and enjoyable and things like this really helps with what we want to do later in life. It's something to be proud of.

“Our tutors have been really helpful, telling how to do things, giving us the best skills and making sure we get it right.”

Nick Turner, a partner at Debenhams Ottaway, presented the students with their winning trophy today and congratulated them for their hard work.

Class tutor Andy Rosser said: “These are the kind of projects that were are crying out for.

“What they produce in the workshop is really good and helping Mr and Mrs Turner they were able to put their work to the test while knowing they were doing a good deed.”

“Some of the lads who come to us haven't had the best start in life, some have been excluded from school, and our job isn't just to train them on the course but to give them a stepping stone in life with valuable life skills.”

Do you know an individual, business or charity who makes a difference in the community? Why not nominate them for a Community Gold Award.

You can enter by emailing your hero’s name and any relevant contact details to revieweditor@london.newsquest.co.uk catchlining your email hero. You can also enter by text or by phone. Send your text to 80360.

Start your text with the word hero, leave a space and then enter the name and contact details of your unsung hero. Please also include your name and a contact number so we can get in touch with you in the event we are unable to contact your nominated person. To nominate by phone, simply call 09012 210048 and leave the details of your unsung hero when prompted. Calls cost no more than 25p per call from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and some other networks may cost more. Texts cost 25p plus your normal operator text charge. Telephone and text voting lines open 08/02/2010 and close 15/12/2010 at 23:59PM.

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