Cameron’s Passport Pride success

A passion for helping others has earned inspirational teenager Cameron Giles recognition in Teesside University’s Passport Pride Awards.

The 17-year-old, from Redcar, is among those recognised by the Passport Pride Awards, which celebrate the achievements of students and institutions involved in the University’s Passport scheme. Passport aims to encourage students’ progress from further education to higher education.

Cameron is completing A-levels in biology, chemistry and law at Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough, where he is president of the Students’ Union.

As soon as he was elected president, Cameron immediately began following up on pledges he’d made to the students to look at bus routes and travel incentives for students and has already spoken to Middlesbrough Council and Redcar and Cleveland College to raise these issues.

He is also a Student Governor, acting as the voice of students to present any issues at meetings with senior college staff.

Cameron, a former pupil of Redcar’s Rye Hills School, said: 'I really enjoy my roles with the Students’ Union and as a student governor as I’m representing people who are often reluctant to speak up for themselves.'

It was so awe-inspiring He has also been a St John Ambulance volunteer for around six years and recently got involved in helping train new recruits. A highlight of this involvement was being invited to take part in a Remembrance Day parade in London.

He said: 'It was the first time there had been a St John Ambulance cadet contingent at the parade and there were only about 24 of us. It was so awe-inspiring.'

Cameron’s links with St John Ambulance also led him to consider a career in medicine. He said: 'I’ve done work experience at Stead Memorial Hospital in Redcar and Guisborough Hospital and I’d really like to work in emergency medicine such as an hospital A&E unit. It’s the challenge of it all and no two days are the same.'

He said of his Passport Pride recognition: 'I was completely shocked and surprised to hear that I’d won an award. I really enjoy doing all those things in my free time and you never really expect anything for doing it, it’s now just part of my day-to-day life. It’s personally rewarding.'

Cameron is now looking ahead to consider a range of higher education courses, including diagnostic radiography at Teesside University.

Prior Pursglove law teacher Kate Barnett, who nominated Cameron, said: 'He is such a hard-working student and always puts himself forward and throws himself in to everything. He’s an exceptional young man.'

Karen Wheatley, Recruitment Co-ordinator, Teesside University, said: Each year I am astounded by our Passport Pride nominees in terms of their academic ability and the extra lengths they have gone to better themselves and help others. They really are an inspiration.

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