Poppy Castle

As a mature 18 year old I feel that my learnt life skills have shaped me into who I am today: a person who is determined to complete any task given, someone who is there to help with problems needing to be faced and somebody that will help guide another to make the best decision in the right places. My volunteering has also had a big impact on who I am, my good communication skills and basic understanding skills. It has made me determined, with a need to help others and a person who is not afraid to ask for help.

I think my time volunteering in groups has made me a great team worker.

Volunteer at YMCA charity shop For work experience in Year 10 I volunteered at the YMCA charity shop in Blandford. Within my week of experience I learnt a great amount of new skills I needed to be a great employee.

• Stacking shelves
• Placing items of clothing on hanging bars
• Working on the till (scanning items, placing those items into the right category, learning how to use a card machine and how to take cash into the register)
• Talking to customers about their items that they had picked out

Work Experience at Wates construction (2026 – 2026)

In my second year of college in 2026 I was honoured to get work experience at Wates construction in Hillbourne, Kitchener Crescent. This experience was on a construction site where I gained real life experience of how a site works and how hard working the employees are. Please do contact Katherine Jones, who made this placement possible on Katherine.Jones@wates.co.uk

• Drylining and inspecting other professionals' work to ensure there are no imperfections
• Installing access panels in kitchens and bathrooms to allow workers to access their work in the future

Volunteer at Dorset Police Cadets

I have volunteered in the Dorset Police Cadets at Corfe Mullen previously. In my time volunteering I learnt communication skills, basic first aid and how to help out in serious emergencies.

Volunteer at Race for Life

I helped out in the Race for Life at Poole Quay, during this I guided racers to the right direction and told them the time of their race. By the end I gave the finishers food and water and their medal with congratulations.

Volunteer at Red Arrows show

I also volunteered at the Red Arrows show at Bournemouth Pier, this was mostly trying to invite people to join the Cadets and explaining my experiences at Cadets. Eventually I guided them to the websites they needed to apply. We also spent time as a group working together learning team work and how to help someone in any situation.

GCSEs – Corfe Hills School

Level 2 Diploma in Multi Skills Construction – Bournemouth and Poole College of Further Education (2024-09 – 2025-07)

Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying – Bournemouth and Poole College of Further Education (2025-09 – 2026-06)

Level 2 Diploma in Plastering – Bournemouth and Poole College of Further Education (2026-09)