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Sat 22nd Nov 2008
	11:00	Take Each Day
	11:35	Lions Are Green
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Summit About the Boy - award winner

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Summit About the Boy

Imagine you're standing in front of President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair and they're talking to YOU! Unlikely? Unbelievable?

.... well no, not if you're 22-year old Lee McConville from Lozells in Birmingham and under the wing of veteran Times political editor, Philip Webster.

That's the story of Summit About the Boy which follows Lee's extraordinary journey from the violent gang-ridden streets of Lozells where opportunity and motivation are in short supply to the exclusive briefings at the G8 summit in Germany and the cutting edge of political journalism.

Along the way, Lee co-interviewed Tessa Jowell, former Secretary of State at the DCMS, survived the hard living international media circus which gathers at events like these, interviewed Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow on being a political reporter, and contributed video blogs and articles to Times Online and Charge (watch and comment on Lee's G8 blogs).

Lee face to face with ...

But the film is not just the impressions of a young man at a major political event. It's about the life changing experience of a mentoring relationship. It looks at the odd couple - the highly respected Philip Webster and the disengaged young man from the wrong side of the tracks - who surprisingly hit it off!

From thinking that politics didn't have anything to do with him - in a short time and with the right help - Lee has turned into someone with ideas, purpose, ambition and a career path he's keen to pursue.

Chewing the fat with Jon Snow!

Philip says of Lee: "He's been given a wonderful opportunity and has seized it with enthusiasm... it has been a most exciting challenge to help him and to ensure that he maximizes the opportunity."

Thanks to Fairbridge for giving Lee a chance to find his feet and a direction in life, and the Times for providing the mentor. Fairbridge and the Times are part of the Media Trust's Youth Mentoring Scheme which facilitated Lee's journey.

Read Lee's blog on Turning His Life Around in Your Charity Space.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 30 September 2008 )

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