::andrew muir online::

1976 - 1993	1993 - 1997	1999 - 2008
Growing up Primary & Secondary School	Further & Higher Education Foyle Friend & SHAC	The World of Work Politics & Communities

1993 After completing my studies at St Columbanus’ I embarked on A Level Politics and Geography, full time over one year, at North Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education. I completed my A Levels in June 1994, obtaining Grade C in Politics and Grade E in Geography.

1994 I then commenced employment with M&S in August 1994 at their Belfast City Centre and Ballymena Stores as a Young Management Trainee having previously been successful in my application following my attendance at a Selection Centre in May 1994.

1995 After working for over a year with the UK’s leading retailer I decided to leave Marks and Spencer and enjoy the benefits life at University can bring. I felt that I wanted to learn more about life and gain the "life experience" university gives many.

Before I commenced my degree in September 1996 at the University of Sunderland (Politics and Business Studies) I worked with Woolworths part time in their Entertainment Department, Bangor, and studied A Level Business Studies at North Down Institute where I obtained a Grade C.

1996 Following a series of documentaries shown by the BBC coinciding with World Aids Day on 1st December 1995 I made probably be biggest decision in my life to “come out” as gay in February 1996. One of the most moving items shown by the BBC was “Priest” a movie documenting a clerics personal struggle with his own sexuality, starring Robert Carlyle. It can be purchased from Amazon and was instrumental in proving to me that being gay is healthy, good and proper!

From the hundreds of web sites available about coming out and being gay probably the best one to visit at GLYNI (a Belfast based youth group for young lesbians, gay men & bisexuals).

The best and most animated guide I have ever encountered covering every associated with being gay is The Homo Handbook, available for purchase from Amazon via http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/
obidos/ASIN/0684813580/ref=sr_aps_books_1_1/026-5663383-6174059

“This is a must-read for anyone who is gay, thinks he/she might be gay, or even knows someone who is gay. A reader from Jasper, Alabama

1997 After a bad experience at the University of Sunderland where I encountered a city with a very high crime rate and fellow students in my accommodation who were blatantly homophobic I applied to study Peace & Conflict Studies at the University of Ulster's Magee Campus in Derry / Londonderry. The course was much more organised and professional than my previous syllabus at the University of Sunderland.

I used my first few months at the University of Ulster to settle into the course (I was three months behind!) and to explore a city full of political history and controversy.

1997 After giving some help towards Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Pride North West 1997 I started to devote a lot of my spare time to Foyle Friend, an organisation which provided information, support and advocacy to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people across the North West of Ireland. I installed IT systems and joined the Management Committee, serving as Chairperson from April 1998 to February 1999.

During my time as Chairperson we were successful in obtaining £297 000 from the National Lottery Charities Board towards the establishment of a Resource Centre. We also initiated and developed a constructive relationship between the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community and the police. In return we were awarded the “Stonewall Equality Award” in December 1998 by Mo Mowlam, former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

After serving as Co-Chair of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Pride North West 1998 I resigned as Chair of Foyle Friend in February 1999 to concentrate on my final year studies.

1997 In November 1997 I applied and was successful in being appointed as Warden for Student Housing Association Co-operative's Rockmill site.

Rockmills accomodates 227 single people from various backgrounds, not necessarily students. During my time with SHAC I gained a comprehensive understanding of the social issues facing modern society and the reality of policing in predominately nationalist areas of Northern Ireland. I left this post in November 1998 to concentrate on my final year studies.

1976 - 1993	1993 - 1997	1999 - 2008
Growing up Primary & Secondary School	Further & Higher Education Foyle Friend & SHAC	The World of Work Politics & Communities

This page was last updated Friday, 15 February 2008 19:41:57