“Who fancies a Summer Challenge?” were the words that changed Kyle Smith’s career ambitions while in year 9 at school. Until then, Kyle had been toying with a career as a pilot. His subsequent experiences with the UFA not only helped him grow as an individual, but made him realise that interaction with people was at the core of his being. “After that, working as a pilot, in a small team or in isolation seemed a horrible prospect,” says Kyle. “I honestly couldn’t understand why I’d even considered it. The UFA really highlighted what a people person I am, and then gave me a focus to use my skills.”

Kyle grew up as a sociable child and from the age of four and a half his mother kept him busy in everything from

scouts to karate club. The UFA entered his life in 2005 when he was 14 years old and torn between being a pilot or something generally more creative.

“A teacher with UFA connections mentioned a media-based Summer Challenge,” says Kyle. “My mum was keen, as usual, to fill up my summer, so I went along to Millennium Point in Birmingham, quite unsure what to expect. We were welcomed by a facilitator, and warmed up with group work icebreakers and energisers, to help us all bond.

Thanks to his UFA experiences and insights, Kyle Smith was guided to change ambitions

from being a pilot, to an events manager

Kyle Smith

The University of the First Age St. Paul’s Cottages, 59-60 Water Street

The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham B3 1EP

TelFaxEmail www.ufa.org.uk

0121 212 98380121 212 9585ufa@ufa.org.uk

Then we were given the week’s plan, which was to film and produce a video. It turned out to be a fantastic week. We learnt to storyboard, plan, edit and perform in front of the cameras. I had good social skills beforehand, but this all-round experience really re-enforced them.”

A year later, Kyle’s involvement stepped up a notch when he

went to a day’s training for Peer Tutoring (Peer Tutors facilitate others to run UFA clubs or activities). “We were introduced to the concept that people learn in different ways,” says Kyle. It was really interesting to see how people interacted, and the methods the UFA used to get the learning over to us.”

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Kyle Smith

Case StudyYoung People’s leadership

Develop Strive

Kyle admits at this stage he was hooked, and went on to attend UFA residentials to plan future events

and to Peer Tutor on Summer Challenges. However, two key moments were still to come. The first was in 2007 when he was Peer Tutoring at a Summer Challenge at the Birmingham Rep. “We were putting on an interactive performance of Murder At The Rep,” says Kyle. “We had a week to write the script, plan the characters and plot it out. I worked closely with the UFA and Rep staff, and I was given the responsibility of managing huge parts of the process. I used a lot of the improvisation skills the UFA has taught me, to deliver the programme and keep things on track. It was the first time I realised just how capable and what a good organiser I was.”

The second was during the 2008 national residential at Quorn Hall, Loughborough. “We were planning YoUFiestA – a festival of learning for the following year,” says Kyle. “It was very intense and involved. Some people were getting press releases ready, others working on a documentary, some evaluating the work for funding purposes. We were tired and an argument flared up, and I found myself trying to stitch us together. I realised then I was also a natural mediator. This has since been confimed when one of the UFA adults told me I could ‘lead from the front, and push from the back.’

“I like to see people blossom and enjoy themselves” says Kyle.

The next steps

www.ufa.org.ukYoung People’s leadership

That’s a very powerful statement and one I’ve never forgotten. I really was inspired by her belief in me.”

Since then Kyle has gone on from strength to strength. At the end of 2009’s YoUFiestA he gained

the post of Modern Apprentice at UFA where he spends four days, with day release at college.

“I like to see people blossom and enjoy themselves,” says Kyle. “Being in the UFA has shown me it’s possible to lead and also stand back to let others have a go. All my life I’ve talked. The UFA taught me how to listen. And through doing that, I’ve discovered a passion for events management. The UFA has definitely saved me from going down the wrong career path.”

“That’s a very powerful statement and one I’ve never forgotten. I really was inspired by her belief in me” says Kyle

Training

Kyle Smith

A2-1010-CSL/KS

Create Motivate