Imagine You Can NCS Times Autumn 2014

The NCS Voice of the Community
Written by the NCS Students from East Cleveland, Redcar, Middlesbrough, Stockton & Whitby.
www.facebook.com/ncsimagineyoucan www.imagineyoucan.tv

2
By Ethan Gren, Amy Kellerman,
Connor Mendum, Daniel
Appleton, Connor Perry, Severina
Berry, and Saffie Heselton
PD Ports, Teesport is the fifth largest
port in the United Kingdom.
Teesport is based in Teesside. The main
imports are crude oil, natural gas, coal,
iron ore and other commodities.
Our group of eight students from
the Imagine You Can NCS autumn
programme visited Teesport and had
the opportunity to speak to the local
Harbourmaster, Jerry Drewitt. On our
visit, we found out the history of the
harbour, its purpose and its future plans.
The Harbourmaster is responsible for
managing the harbour; this includes the
safety and security of the port, getting
ships in and out efficiently and port
maintenance. Jerry Drewitt has a total of
37 years of experience in marine industry
and has been the Harbourmaster for 17
years. We found out that the role of a
Harbourmaster is not what it seems;
everyday on the job is a new experience.
Jerry took us on a tour of the river on
the Harbourmaster’s launch and gave us
plenty of detail about the port’s purpose
and the industries based on the river.
The River Tees is home to many
shipping industries, which includes
popular companies such as Asda, Tesco
and SABIC. These types of companies fill
the port each day with varying numbers
of ships. The volume of traffic on the river
ranges from 1-25 a day. This totals to over
5000 ships per year.
The continuous development of
Teesport has created many jobs over
the years. Currently Teesport employs
over 10,000 people. These jobs include
roles such as Harbour officers; Tees dock
workers and various service industries.
Most people are employed in the
cargo trade. Some examples are steel,
chemicals and various fossil fuels. These
cargoes move in and out of the port on
a daily basis. The smaller ships take
20,000 tonnes whereas bigger ships
that measure 326m long and 55m deep
take shipments of up to 190,000 tonnes.
The purpose of the Port
From Jerry we found out that the
River Tees isn’t just a river, it has many
underlying purposes.
Many companies store cargo in the
port area such as in warehouses. As well
as this, the port provides services which
include: food supplies, rubbish disposal
and medical care. PD Ports provides
these services for both incoming and
outgoing ships and their crews.
When ships come into the port,
specialist pilots with local knowledge
of the river take command of the large
vessels and bring them safely into the
basins depending on the draught of the
vessel. The special knowledge that the
pilots possess make them a key asset to
PD Ports. For the largest vessels they are
supported by the tug boats which help
manoeuvre the vessels once they are in
the river. The river must be surveyed
and dredged constantly to maintain the
deep channels which make it accessible
to some of the largest vessels coming
into the UK.
Managing hazards at the Port
There are many factors that have to
be taken into account to ensure that the
port is always safe.
This means the types of cargoes must
be considered so there are not any
breaches of safety. Over the years Jerry
and his team has been working towards
maximising safety within the port. For
example, cargo ships now don’t bring
in fossil fuel gas in gaseous form; they
now bring it in liquid form. This is due
to it being too dangerous as it is highly
flammable.
With the movement of goods and
people from all around the world, this
can present a hazard to people’s health.
For example, a disease that’s been in the
news recently is Ebola, because of this
workers at the port have to take certain
safety precautions such as selective
Voice of the Community
PD Ports: The underwater story
berthing, crew member screening and
checking the origins of certain voyages
to ensure they have not had the
opportunity to come into contact with
anyone who is infected. If these safety
precautions aren’t followed then it could
lead to a widespread epidemic.
Conservation
Along with managing the different
ships and cargoes that come into
Teesport, part of the Harbourmaster’s
job includes managing the environment
around the port, and ensuring that it is
conserved.
Since Jerry has been in the
Harbourmaster role, the relationship
of the port with the environment has
changed significantly and his job
concerns this more. One way that this
is done around Teesport is that the
riverbanks around the port are made of
slag, which is the stone-like waste that
is left over when metal is separated from
ore. On this, moss grows, and seaweed
is allowed to build up along the banks,
which is beneficial to the environment
and shows that the water is clean
because it wouldn’t grow otherwise.
In addition to this, Jerry and his team
are looking at using the silt that is
collected from dredging to help the
wildlife, rather than it currently being
deposited in a specific location in the
sea, for it to be washed away by the
tide. They are looking at using any clay
that is collected to create small islands
which are only visible when the tide
Earthbeat Social Action Project
Over two weekends a large group
of NCS students from Imagine You
Can swarmed an old school building in
Saltburn, not in the usual ‘young people
hanging around way’ but to make a
difference.
A week before this a man stood before
40 young people and told them about a
‘little’ renovation task that was currently
been undertaken in Saltburn. This man
was Tony Galuidi from the theatre
company Earthbeat. He spoke of the
huge task of renovating a rundown old
school building in to a active hub in the
community. He spoke of the work he did
and the mammoth task that was in front
of him and his organisation. At the end
of his talk he uttered a few words: “Who
would like to help us?” After that a wave
of 40 hands shot up.
We fast forward a week and we
have those very young people
scrubbing floors painting ceilings,
walls, scraping paint of old beautiful
goes out. These can benefit the local
birds as they feed on what is left by
the water. The wildlife can thrive in
this environment because there is little
disruption by humans in the industrial
areas. For example, the area near the
nuclear power station is fenced off so
the birds have a safe area to breed and
feed. This also helps the seal colonies in
the water as they are rarely disturbed
as well.
Cargo
One of the biggest providers of
Teesport’s cargo is Conoco Phillips. This
company mainly provides Teesport
with oil and gas which is stored on the
riverside in containers and distributed
nationwide. Other companies which
handle storage on the Tees are: Simons
Storage who import and store liquids
and gases and Vopak which provide
Bio-ethanol.
Steel is a big import and export on
Teesside as one of the main industries is
making steel from iron ore. The iron ore
comes into Teesport and is offloaded at
the iron ore terminal. Then, the steel is
made in the port steel making facility
and SSI UK has made over five million
tonnes of steel slabs since opening
the facility in 2012. Mostly, the steel is
dispatched to Thailand, where SSI is
based, and to date the total tonnage is
in excess of 3.2 million tonnes. This is a
major Teesside business as the value
of these exports is expected to be over
£1.2 billion.
Also, there are two container terminals
operated by PD Ports at Teesport which
deal with a range of different imports.
The containers come from the Baltic
routes and the Far-East as well as the
short sea market. Big retailers such as
Asda and Tesco are examples of the
short sea market as their goods, many of
which originate from China, are brought
to Teesside from Southampton to save
lorry miles. Those companies have vast
warehouses based on Teesside to store
the goods ready for distribution.
With this detailed insight into the
industry on Teesside, we would like
to thank Jerry Drewitt and all at PD
Ports for the opportunity and Lauren
Bywater from High Tide for organising
the visit. Overall, we learned a lot about
something most of us didn’t realise
existed and we all gained a lot from
the work place experience. Our raised
awareness of the local area has given
us a greater understanding of what is
happening and which career choices
are available.
tiles and over all making a difference
to a small community. Some of these
young people are from as far away
as Stockton and Whitby but still they
travelled to the small town of Saltburn
to try help make a difference to those
in need.
The huge renovation is still chugging
along and will soon hopefully be
finished for all to enjoy, and we have the
pleasure to say we were there to help
make a difference.

After speaking to the three
Breakfast show stars we
as a group have learnt how
vital it is to be confident when
speaking to a considerably
large audience.
This suggested that you need
to act confident in front of a
large crowd, even if you don’t
feel confident, confidence is
key!
Capital is more up to date
on the modern news and
more importantly the latest
pop music. As it’s so large
and well respected this CHR
(contemporary hit radio) gets
given the information first.
This is to keep the young
audience interested.
The presenters seemed
very open and approachable.
They were also very down
to earth which ensured the
conversation flowed smoothly.
The demographic for Capital
FM is 15-34 year olds. However
the average target audience
was 20-something females as
they listen to the radio much
more than males.
It’s also very important
to ensure your material
is relevant and suited to
your target audience so
they continue to listen to
you. Capital ensures their
material such as songs and
competitions suit their target
audience.
We also learnt what they
believe the key qualities of
working in a team are. Bodge,
Matt and JoJo (the breakfast
How to get a job in
radio broadcasting
By Melissa Woodley
Step one: How do you get
experience?
Experience is vital –
Most radio stations favour
experience in the field
over media qualifications.
Contact local radio stations,
particularly community
stations, to request voluntary
work at the radio in your
spare time. Also volunteers
are often needed at local
hospital radio stations, to
find your nearest hospital
radio visit: www.hbauk.
co.uk/. Being a volunteer
means you most likely won’t
be on air or partaking at vital
roles on radio, nevertheless,
you will get real first-hand
experience of what working
in the radio industry is really
like and gain the key skills
needed to pursue the career.
Interns run errands, set up
interviews with guests and
help with show production.
Interns usually gain paid
positions at a radio station
after they finish school.
Step Two: What courses
are available?
There are many radio
courses to train you in
vital skills and knowledge,
these include; Introduction
to radio, Southend-onsea,
Lambeth College
radio courses radio for
beginners, NCFE Extended
Diploma, Edexcel National
Award, Mediafly Newcastle,
Manchester, Leeds,
Birmingham and Bristol,
Point Blank London Guest
lectures are delivered by
presenters from BBC Radio
One, Capital Radio, Kiss
FM and Choice FM, Radio
Surgery Presenter training
in Lancashire, including
one-to-one sessions and
demo tape production,
Theradioschool.com Kent.
Step three: Where should
I check?
Network with staff at your
favorite radio station, attend
station functions and join
their street team. Check your
local radio stations. Visit
theradiocentre.org to get a
list of the names, addresses
and phone numbers of
the UK commercial radio
stations. Visit: http://www.
radioandtelly.co.uk/radio.
html#types for details of
different types of stations
there such as community,
hospital and student. Visit:
http://www.radioandtelly.
co.uk/workinradio.html for
UK radio jobs in the industry.
Step four: How do I
approach the station?
Find the name of the right
person to speak to at the
station. Either take a look on
the station’s website, or call
their switchboard. Introduce
yourself and thank them for
seeing you. Use the personal
touch. Be polite and don’t
use offensive language.
Reach the Programme
Controller or Programme
Director. Provide a demo
tape.
Step five: How else can I
get into radio?
Run your own station
broadcasting on the internet,
or podcasting.
Visit: http://www.
radioandtelly.co.uk/
internetradio.html#own for
information on how to set
up your own radio station
or http://www.radioandtelly.
co.uk/podcasts.html for how
to start podcasting.
Voice of the Community
NCS - Capital Radio
presenters) expressed they
believe that the key quality of
working in a team is getting
along with the other team
members by getting to know
them and understand or share
By Lucie
study beauty at Redcar &
I Cleveland College.
I did level one while I was
at school and I really enjoyed
it and it is something I have
wanted to do all my life. I love
doing beauty because I have
grown up with it and I like to
make people feel and look
good. But sometimes I don’t
like it because I feel like you
get judged more now that I am
doing beauty because I feel
like now I always have to dress
to impress people and not just
the way I would like to dress.
But doing this course opens
your eyes to new things and
new ways. You find out a lot
more about your body and
how it works and how people’s
bodies are not all the same.
You get to know more people
and also get to know more
about life with what people
tell you.
In level 1 you do basic skills
By Liam Clayton
From November 2012 till
June 2014 I had the task
of raising £3,795 to be able
to go on a trip to South
America.
With “a little” help from my
parents I was able to do this
through cake sales, getting a
job, car wash and sponsored
activities. We flew from
Heathrow to Miami to Mexico
City to Oaxaca airport all
in one night which in total
took over fifteen hours and
we were there for three and
a half weeks and travelled
from Mexico to Guatemala
to Belize. While we were
there we helped out at
their likes.
Another interesting fact that
the producer told us is that
as they are established as a
premium brand they wouldn’t
associate themselves with
Beauty and bullying
like hands and nails and facials
then if you carry on to level 2
where you still do hands and
feet and facials but you also
add the makeup, waxing, eye
brow tinting and shaping. We
also do spray tanning if you
carry on to do level 3 then
you will start to go on work
placements and be in the
salon at lot more. But even
though we do all this there is
a lot of wittering work to do.
All my life I have been bullied
all the way through school
life but since I started going
to college I don’t get bullied
any more, which I am happy
about because it got so bad I
could not have handled it any
longer.
I would just like to say a few
things on what happened
to me and why I was been
bullied. I used to come out of
my house and I got spat on
and hit with stones and had
other things thrown at me I
an orphanage in which
the children ranged from
4-16 and over 50% had a
disability. We painted the
walls of the orphanage to
make it look brighter for
them and played games
with them so they would
have fun. We also trekked
through the Belizean jungle
and through Mexican forests;
we had lots of fun and felt
like we gained a lot from
the trip.
Looking back now I know
that it has affected the
way in which I think and
feel about certain thing
such as the way in which
the children had no real
3
lower brands like pound shops
as it effects their image
negatively.
Over all the day was fast and
interesting just as I imagine
the real radio industry is.
sometimes even got beaten
up and I got name called. It
did not just happen at school
it also happened outside of
school. It got to the stage
where I was scared to leave
my house and I would not
go out in case something
happened. Every time I
picked up my phone I would
have a message of someone
threatening me. It got to the
point where I wanted to die, I
wanted to kill myself I felt so
alone I felt as if I had no one to
turn to, I stopped eating and I
cried myself to sleep. So if you
are out there getting bullied
please go and tell someone
you trust please don’t suffer in
silence like I did. Please don’t
let it affect your school work,
even though I was bullied I still
had 100% attendance because
I knew that my school life was
more important than letting
the bullies ruin my life and I
will make something of my life.
My world challenge expedition
family with them and had
disabilities which stopped
them from doing things. But
it didn’t affect them and
they had their own little
families in the orphanage
and they called each other
brother and sister. They
looked out for each other
and got on so well which
was very inspirational to
see between them. Also it
showed me how, in different
parts of the world, the
little things we complain
about are so insignificant
compared to the problems
of these people such as
the living standards and
constant fear of danger.

4
Voice of the Community
NCS Graduation Night
By Grace Hughes
Just over a month ago, the
students for the Autumn 2014
NCS programme barely even
knew one another existed.
It wasn’t until we embarked
upon a residential trip to
Peat Rigg Outdoor Activity
Centre that we got to meet
and our NCS journey began.
We dealt with the awkward,
uncomfortable silences on
the bus journey together
for about half an hour until
personalities began to shine
through and friendships
developed. Rock-climbing,
archery and canoeing were
but a few of the activities,
which brought us together
both as a team and as friends.
Despite pushing ourselves to
the limits (both physically
and mentally), Peat Rigg was
probably one of the most
beneficial social experiences
of our lives so far. And this was
only the beginning….
Our next step in the journey
was at Macmillan Academy
where the friendships
continued to blossom and so
did the learning. Some groups
worked on media projects,
whereas others learned
about industry in our local
area. Finally, we each had
the opportunity to take part
in a social action project with
‘Earthbeat Theatre Company’
for learning disabled adults.
As volunteers, we worked
together as a team to help
the Earthbeat community to
clean up and paint their new
premises in Saltburn. After
our work at Earthbeat was
complete, we set our sights on
our final part of the journey:
the graduation.
One of the best parts of
the whole NCS experience
was the graduation itself.
Paintbrushes and boiler
suits had been replaced by
smart attire: everyone had
scrubbed up well for the
occasion. The evening began
with video footage of our past
weeks together - it proved
that having cameras in our
faces at every opportunity
was worth it in the end. We
laughed as all the memories
came flooding back from the
times we had all had together.
One of the main things that
we learned from NCS was
that by reaching out of our
comfort zone, we can achieve
the best experiences. We had
relied on each other, despite
not really knowing one
another and consequently
grew to trust each other no
matter what.
Next, we all had the ultimate
privilege of watching a
performance from members
of Earthbeat itself. Their
singing was very moving and
truly inspirational. They sang
a number of songs, but their
rendition of ‘Imagine’ left
not a dry eye in the house.
Not only was this a heartwarming
showcase but the
product of the hardworking
Earthbeat volunteers. It
brought a sense of joy and
accomplishment knowing that
the young people of NCS have
helped Earthbeat realise their
dream of bringing happiness
and a sense of purpose to
people’s lives.
After the wonderful
performance, we watched
intently as Earthbeat
manager Tony Galuidi spoke
about how our support has
impacted these people’s
lives. Not only did our help
to save on labour costs,
but also to create a clean
bright community space
for their charity. This was a
very special moment for our
group, knowing that we had
helped them to achieve their
dream of having their own
place to call ‘home’.
Our very own group
members; Ali, Tom, Harry,
Elliot and Will went on to
give a presentation on a
separate project which they
had taken on. The five of
them had been part of our
whole NCS experience but
had taken their part in the
social action project in a
different direction. They went
to local nursing homes and
listened to the stories of many
old people, who are often
overlooked and not given
much attention by young
people. The boys told us that
many of the old people were
thrilled to take themselves
back forty+ years to their
youth, (some stories lasting
around two hours!). By giving
their time to listen and chat
they were able to give back
to our community by bringing
happiness and helping people
feel valued.
As the evening drew to a
close, we were each invited to
go onto the stage to receive
the certificate we had all
worked hard for. One by one,
we walked up with thunderous
applause from our friends
and family: a proud moment
for all involved. But it wasn’t
about the certificate in the
end, it was more about the
experience we had each gone
through and the skills we
had learned throughout the
weeks of the course. In a final
speech, Alexandra Moylan-
Jones an NCS 2014 graduate,
who went on to the NCS
Leaders programme , told us
that NCS doesn’t stop now
but carries on throughout our
lives. And I believe that she’s
right. NCS isn’t only about
helping in your community
but it’s about you. It’s about
building self-confidence,
life skills and friendships.
Confidently, she told us, “A
few weeks ago I didn’t even
dare to put my hand up in
class, but now here I am stood
talking in front of you all”. As
the graduation ended, it was
all clear that the end of the
course was not the end of
friendships that had been
made, nor the end of the skills
or the good that we can bring
to our community: it was just
the beginning…