Damion Austin Alumni Profile

TRS Learning from 2018 – 2023 

What have you gone on to do since leaving, and what does life look like for you now?

I went to Oldham College to study Sport and completed my level 2, I am now starting my second year at level 3. I would like to teach and coach PE in Primary Schools.

It hasn’t been easy for me as I’m Dyslexic and had to study Maths and English again at the same time. Last year I conquered Maths and this week I have finally passed English, which now means I can fully concentrate on my final year.

I have been a Lifeguard for Oldham Active since February 2024 and manage to work through the holidays, weekends and nights where I can.

I am a Rookie Lifeguard Instructor for Droylsden Lifesaving Club where I have been since the age of 8. I hold my RLSS National Pool Lifeguard Qualification, Open Water Qualifications, Lifesaving Academy Instructor as well as numerous First Aid Qualifications, as well as the STA Pool Lifeguard qualification needed for Oldham Active.

I am also a Cub Leader and belong to Network Scouts and hopefully will soon receive my D of E Gold and my Kings Scout Award.

Can you tell us more about your recent trip to Kenya?

I was recently picked to go to Kenya with Oldham College for 16 nights to help at a School in Nakuru in the Rift Valley.

We flew to Istanbul and then to Nairobi, where we stayed overnight before a 6-hour journey to Nakuru, it really was a long way. The children were aged between 3 to 16.

There, I coached Football and sport daily, we skimmed walls and painted classrooms, I delivered two lessons that were nerve racking, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and this has made me want to coach sport in primary schools more, to see the children enjoy and take part in the lessons was so rewarding.

Whilst we were there we visited the Menengai Crater, visited an Elephant Orphanage, we enjoyed some Kenyan cooking, We fed Giraffes, visited local craft markets, it really was a trip of a lifetime which I will never forget.

What support did you receive at The Radclyffe School that helped you along the way?

Whilst at the Radclyffe School in Year 10, I had the opportunity to go to Hoby UK, taking part in Seminars and Workshops designed to ask young people who they are, who they want to be and ultimately how they can achieve that potential. They bring young people together from different areas, backgrounds and cultures to expend their horizons and their ambitions.

Young people leave Hoby with Introspection, knowledge and compassion and dreams of making the world a better place, they want young people to make an impact on the world, and to know that, truly, the sky is the limit for them all.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time there in Year 10 as a candidate and returned the following year as a member of the team and have continued with it to this day. I was honoured to be invited and attend a presentation where Hoby UK received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

What are some of your favourite memories from your time here?

My favourite memories from my time at The Radclyffe school has got to be PE and gaining all my PE Colours. I also enjoyed being on the Student Leadership Team.

If you could go back and give your Year 7 self one piece of advice, what would it be?

If I were starting year 7 now and knew what I know now I would really go for it, don’t be shy, don’t be hesitant, take what you can from your secondary school years and be proud of who you are and what you can and have achieved, make the most of your school days.

Finally, how would you describe your time at The Radclyffe School in three words?

Enjoyable, memorable and fun.

Read the full article about Damion here.