• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

Adrian GrayA STUDENT is preparing to jet off on an African adventure to help people in one of the most deprived nations in the world.

Adrian Gray, a Level 3 Carpentry apprentice at Hartlepool College of Further Education, has spent the last three years picking up skills which he will now pass on to people in Tanzania.

The 21-year old has volunteered to go on an International Citizenship project with Raleigh International, and will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Prince William, Kate Middleton and Tim Peake when he starts his three-month trip in September.

Adrian’s main task in Tanzania will be to help improve access to safe water, and the practical skills he has picked up on his course helped him to secure a place on the trip when he faced an assessment panel in London earlier this year.

To help him on his way, Adrian, who lives in the Rift House area of Hartlepool, has set up a fundraising drive which will see him take on challenges to raise money, including doing garden and household tasks for friends, neighbours and family, selling his own carpentry/wood-turning products and other sponsored events.

He is hoping to raise £800 for Raleigh International, and that will go towards the costs of sending other young people on similar trips in the future.

Adrian said: “I’m delighted to have been selected to go on this trip, and after researching it I know I can really help to make a difference when I get out there.

“Raleigh International has a proud history of helping others and giving opportunities to young people like myself.

“I’m really looking forward to getting Tanzania and putting the skills I have learned at Hartlepool College of Further Education to good use.

“I’m hoping to raise as much money as I can to help out Raleigh International, and to give other people the same sort of opportunity I have been given.”

Darren Hankey, Principal at Hartlepool College of Further Education, added: “Adrian has excelled on his course, and it is a fantastic gesture for him to volunteer on such an important project.

“Young people are often portrayed in a bad light, but by doing this Adrian is a credit to himself and his family and we’re all very proud of him here at Hartlepool College of Further Education.

“We wish him well with his fundraising drive, and look forward to hearing all about his trip when he gets back from Tanzania.”

Adrian has set up his own fundraising page at

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/adriansfundraising4tanzania

For more information about Hartlepool College of Further Education, call the Apprenticeship Administrators on 01429 295111 or visit www.hartlepoolfe.ac.uk.

By admin