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Dean’s Team 40 Guaranteed to be a Real Gem!

Dean started his first Clydebank College team on 19 July 1999 and since then he has helped to change over 600 young people lives. On top of Dean’s impressive team figure, he is also the longest serving Team Leader in Scotland and ranks 2nd in the UK for Team Provision.

When Dean was asked why he wanted to become a Team Leader he said, ‘I moved up to Glasgow in 1993. I had previously worked in construction and I needed a career change. So, at the age of 25, I joined the Princes Trust as a team member. I was interested to see what it was like and I was pleased when I found I really enjoyed the whole experience. Afterwards, I continued with the Princes Trust in a volunteering capacity and then the job came up to be a Team Leader for Coatbridge Fire Brigade. The rest is history and 6 teams later I started employment with Clydebank College.

Working with so many teams has been a very rewarding experience for me. The job and the programme is so varied that no day is the same. I can see what a huge difference the 12 week programme can do for those on the Team and I have some real success stories which make it even more worthwhile. The programme covers such transferrable skills which for those who buy into the programme, can open doors both socially and within employment. Over the years I’ve been able to see the benefits of the Princes Trust programme on the young people on my teams, especially with regards to morale. It’s really encouraging to see such progression and the distance travelled by some candidates is quite remarkable.

Whilst I’ve been working I’ve undertaken a Community Education Degree, which has been very beneficial when working with young people. To be honest, I’m still learning and every team teaches me something new about the type of Team Leader I am.
I think years ago it was perceived that the Princes Trust was just for ‘bad boys’ who were trouble causers. It couldn’t be further from the truth…yes, we have some hard to reach and sometimes disengaged young people, but we also have some really quiet and eager to learn members who see the benefit in what the Princes Trust can do for them. ’

Heather Gray, Director at The Price’s Trust Scotland, said:
“I would like to thank Dean for his dedication to The Trust and to the hundreds of young people he will have transformed the lives of through his delivery of our Team programme. Team can have a massive impact on a young person’s education and progression so Dean’s contribution cannot be underestimated.”

If you are aged between 16-25 and are up for changing your life and want to work with one of the most experienced Team Leaders in the UK, then apply now to be part of Team 40! Call Dean on 0141 951 7643.