Member Article

'A huge honour' - College student chosen for City of Culture role

A Coventry College student is looking forward to helping showcasing the best of the city in its year in the national spotlight.

Conor Sturmey, who has lived in Coventry all his life, has been selected as a City Host Team Leader to support a range of UK City of Culture events.

The 20-year-old, who is studying film, TV and radio production at the city’s leading FE college, is looking forward to championing the best of his home city.

City Hosts are volunteers who are helping to welcome visitors as part of the UK City of Culture, supporting various events such as Coventry Pride, Sports Fest and the Godiva Festival coming up next month.

Thousands of volunteers have been recruited as part of the programme, and Conor joined through Coventry College, which is a partner of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021. Conor said: “Being involved is a huge honour for me because I’m able to help out with something that is massive for Coventry.

“I’m really proud to be able to represent that in my role as a City Host and now as a Team Leader.

“As a City Host it is about showing the best that Coventry has to offer, and the fact that I am from here adds so much.

“I know a lot about Coventry and I can help guide others to where they need to go, and overall make their experience here an absolutely awesome one.”

Conor, who is also a student ambassador and a radio presenter on community station Hillz FM, volunteered for the project after hearing about it through a Coventry College training programme.

He has already supported events as a City Host, and now having completed further training he will start as a Team Leader.

He added: “I am looking forward to developing my leadership skills and leading a team. “I have had a few shifts as a City Host already and it is so much fun, I absolutely love it.” Gemma Knott, vice principal for business growth, engagement and partnerships at Coventry College, said: “Coventry College is proud to be a partner of the UK City of Culture and supporting the city in this special year.

“We are delighted that Conor has been chosen for this role as a City Host Team Leader, and we know he will do a fantastic job.”

Emma Taylor-Smith, Volunteer Co-ordinator for the City Host programme, said: “Since becoming a City Host, we have received a lot of positive feedback about Conor, in particular his willingness to help everyone and his ability to make everyone smile.

“Conor has an amazing attitude and embraces his role on every shift he does. “We are really proud of the Host that Conor has become and are looking forward to having him volunteer on many more events with us, representing our city and the City Host Programme.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .