MARCH 2009 futures
11futures HIGHER & FURTHER EDUCATION
S
OME days I forget why I moved to
Cumbria. Today I've woken to find it
covered in snow. Last week, I woke
up to find it frozen and last month,
when I finally convinced my girlfriend to
visit, it was flooded.
I'm better with the sunshine. I studied
in sunny Exeter where I graduated with
a degree in English Literature in 2007.
After that I went travelling, where I
enjoyed a lot of sun, but last April, when
the money ran out, I had to return to the
UK to start looking for jobs. And that's
how I ended up here.
There wasn't much in my hometown,
Northampton, so I started looking into
what most southern English graduates
do, move to London and get a job in
advertising.
Okay, so I didn't quite get that far. But
whilst on my way I was distracted by a
flashy website called
www.nucleargraduate.com. It was
convincing and I applied (along with a
few others). Little did I think I'd get the
job, let alone move up here for a six
month secondment.
Now I am a marketing and
communications `nucleargraduate', and
one of the second cohort of graduates to
start the NDA coordinated programme
with the NDA. And the reality is a little
different to how I expected.
At the very least you could say it's a
little more rainy, frozen and snowy than
I had expected it to be.
I currently work at Herdus House and
even though I don't know how to
decommission reactors, I can help
explain it to people. That means I'm now
the person who promotes the
`nucleargraduate' programme. And
hopefully convince a few more people to
get involved.
The truth is that nuclear is confusing.
It's too scientific or too technical for
many people to really engage with. And
sometimes it's not easy for those who
try. Often they find it to be full of silly
acronyms or nonsensical jargon.
And I guess that is, even though I
forget it sometimes, why I came here.
Both to get my career kick started but
now, along with colleagues in the NDA
and across the industry breaking down
those perceptions and barriers.
It's a big challenge. If I had got that
job in London, perhaps working on an
ad campaign, then I don't think I'd find
it as exciting as here. Even though
sometimes I miss home and forget why
I'm grappling with the Cumbrian
weather, I'd be lying if I didn't admit I'm
glad to be here.
Warming
to life in
Cumbria
Degree in policing
just fits the bill
O
VER the past few months things
seem to be getting even more and
more exciting. The course is
delivering everything that I ever
hoped for so far. The fun began on
January 5, when I was informed that my
uniform was in stores ready for me to
collect.
After collecting my uniform the idea of
becoming a special constable began to
become more of a reality, especially when
the officer safety training took place
shorty after.
The officer safety training I have to say
was one of the most memorable two weeks
of the whole training progress of
becoming a constable. These two weeks
were full of learning, practising and lots
of hard physical work.
The training consisted of a number of
different tasks including the basics in self
defence, first aid, airwaves training and
training in CS spray all of which met my
expectations and put me all in good
preparation even though I could not put
them into practice before being sworn in
as a Special Constable.
On January 14 my dreams finally came
true. Everything I had worked hard for
had all been worth it � I was sworn in at
court.
Nerves and emotions were running
wild that day. Being in full uniform in the
public eye for the first time was very
exciting � not to mention also being very
proud of myself as well.
If the excitement wasn't enough you
can't imagine what my feelings were
when I got back to HQ and we were
greeted by several members of the local
media all desperate to ask questions
related to both the days events and other
aspects of the course.
Alongside all these events and my
excitement of this becoming reality, I also
had to stay focused on the theory part of
the course, which over the past few
months have included a series of
presentations, assessments, essays and
reflections. I have come to realise that it
takes a lot more of my spare time than I
initially thought it would. However it
seems to be paying off and I'm altogether
happy with what I'm achieving and my
personal targets are gradually being met.
January 31 was my first night working
as a Special Constable. I really enjoyed the
night and the work that I was involved in.
It was a long and eye-opening night,
which began early evening with me
meeting up with fellow colleagues and
being introduced to people who I will be
working the closest to.
I found the whole experience somewhat
nerve-wracking but exciting as these were
the people who I can learn the most from,
and hopefully can help mould me into a
fully functional, successful police
constable.
Overall the past few months, my
experiences have been valuable and
enlightening ones, and I feel like I have
gained a lot from this course so far. I am
also looking forward to the future with
the Cumbria Constabulary.
KIER
CROSSFIELD
Special Constable
SPECIAL WORK:
The first group of
students on an
innovative foundation
degree in policing
swear-in as Special
Constables at
Carleton Hall,
Cumbria
Constabulary's
county headquarters
in Penrith. From left,
Matthew Simpson,
Mark Baldwin, Kier
Crossfield, and
Jonathan Griffiths.
Picture: David Hollins
NOVEL WAY TO DISCOVER
OUR LITERARY HISTORY
S
TUDENTS could learn more about the
Lake District with a new degree course
at the University of Cumbria.
The MA in literature, romanticism and
the English Lake District will be taught at
the university's Ambleside campus.
Students will get the chance to learn
more about the rich literary and cultural
heritage of the area � which has inspired
generations of writers and poets including
William Wordsworth and John Ruskin � in
the surroundings that inspired them.
Course leader Dr Penny Bradshaw said:
"The Lake District has provided the
inspiration for many renowned writers,
poets, film-makers, and artists, from the
Romantic period to the present.
"The MA offers you the unique
opportunity to study within these influential
surroundings and to develop a deeper
understanding of creative responses to this
region."
The course can be studied over an 11
month period or over two years part-time.
For more information, visit:
www.cumbria.ac.uk/maliteratureromanticism.
MIKEY KELK
NDA Nuclear Graduate
DR PENNY BRADSHAW

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