Yeardot

Yeardot is a television and web production for Channel 4 by So Television and Holler. It began on 30 June 2008, and follows the lives of fifteen young people from across the United Kingdom as they go through a pivotal year in each of their lives^[1]. The project ended after 12 months at the end of June 2009.

Introduction

The project is taking place both online at the Yeardot website as well as in a series of TV programmes on Channel 4 as part of their educational schedule^[2]. The fifteen participants have set goals for themselves and they hope to achieve them over the next twelve months.

Participants

Participants in the show are young people who are attempting to succeed in their chosen vocation or else are attempting to overcome some challenge. Included are; Jamel Haynes, an ex-homeless man, who wants to stay off the streets^[3]; Sam Phripp who wants to write the United Kingdom's entry for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest^[4] and Simon Jenkin, who hopes to progress as a comedian^[5]. Josh Muggleton has Asperger syndrome and hopes to complete a successful first year at the University of St Andrews. Also partaking are; Isobella Hatwell, who hopes to stage her play Wasted; Gilly Flaherty, who play's defense premier league football for Arsenal L.F.C.^[6] and also plays for England^[7]; Claire Hazelgrove, who is a prospective Labour Party candidate for election^[8]: one of the youngest to do so^[9]; and Chloe Spiteri is an 18 year old with severe learning difficulties who hopes to progress as a wrestler after winning the English junior championships in March 2008^[10] as well as other young people (see list below).

List of participants

Participants in Yeardot^[11]

Name	Age	Occupation*/Dream**
Aaron Augustus	20	Dancer*/Open Company**
Nicolette Ester	16	Leaving home for boarding school*
Gilly Flaherty	16	Plays football for Arsenal ladies*and England
Isobella Hatwell	17	Playwright**
Jamal Haynes	19	Stay off streets**
Claire Hazelgrove	20	Labour Candidate* for MP for Skipton and Ripon
Jade Heusen	18	Classical ballerina* with major company**
Simon Jenkins	20	Comedian*
Sheila Lord	17	Singer/songwriter**
Joshua Muggleton	19	Student and Autism speaker, writer and consultant*
Tom Mursell	19	Entrepreneur*
Sam Phripp	16	Songwriter**
Akilah Russell	19	Print journalist**
Chloe Spiteri	18	Olympic Wrestler**
Deborah Stevenson	17	Poet*

Participant profiles

Claire Hazelgrove

Claire Ruth Hazelgrove (born 16 July 1988, Northampton) is currently the prospective Labour candidate for parliamentary election for Skipton and Ripon^[12][13][14]. At time of selection she was the second youngest Parliamentary Candidate in party history, Emily Benn being the youngest.^[15]. Hazelgrove studies Politics at the University of York and has volunteered for three years for Sally Keeble MP.^[16][17] If elected, she could potentially become the youngest ever MP since the Reform Act 1832. The current record holder is Esmond Harmsworth, elected on 15 November 1919 from Isle of Thanet, aged 21 years 170 days. The youngest female MP was Bernadette Devlin, elected on 17 April 1969 from Mid Ulster, aged 21 years 359 days.

Claire will also be standing against another contender for the title of youngest MP ever. Dylan Gilligan, who is still 17 at the moment, will be standing for The Youth Party, coincidentally also in Skipton and Ripon.

Josh Muggleton

Joshua Thomas Bailey Muggleton (born 7 July 1989, Surrey)^[18] is currently studying Psychology at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Josh was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, in 2004, and is the youngest ever elected councillor of the National Autistic Society. He talks and lectures widely to parents, teachers and others professionals about living with autism, and has been interviewed by TV, radio and national newspapers^[19].

External links

• Official Yeardot Website
• 4Talent magazine article
• Joshua Muggletons Website
• Tom Mursell's apprenticeships website

References

1. ^ Student News article on Yeardot
2. ^ Channel 4 - Educational project website
3. ^ On a roll - Jamal Haynes
4. ^ 2009 hopeful Sam Phripp speaks to oikotimes.com
5. ^ Simon does Edinburgh, part 1 www.yeardot.co.uk
6. ^ FA Women's Premier League - League Table
7. ^ http://www.arsenal.com/ladies/players/gilly-flaherty
8. ^ Claire's summer job
9. ^ Claire 19 Stands For Parliament
10. ^ Barking and Dagenham Recorder, TV acclaim for wrestler Chloe John Phillips, 12 Aug 2008, Accessed 03 Sep 2008
11. ^ Yeardot - Channel 4
12. ^ "UKPolling Report - Labour Candidates.". http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/labour-candidates. 
13. ^ "Claire 19 Stands For Parliament.". http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/newsskipton/display.var.1786390.0.claire_19_stands_for_parliament.php. 
14. ^ "Age is just a number.". http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/blogs/labour/3216011.Age_is_just_a_number/. 
15. ^ "Claire Curry's favour.". http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/columnists/routledge/2007/10/26/claire-curry-s-favour-89520-20013249/. 
16. ^ "Juggling student life and politics: getting the balance right.". http://www.theyorker.co.uk/news/features/1831. 
17. ^ "Article about Hazelgrove.". http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/10/24/second-year-to-stand-in-general-election/. 
18. ^ Births England and Wales 1984-2006
19. ^ "Josh Muggleton's personal website". http://mugsy.org/josh/.