Matt Courtney

Emmanuel Theological College

Certificate of Higher Education  in Theology, Ministry and Mission

I am willing and happy to serve. I have the best interests God’s will and of my course mates at heart rather than my own want or will. I have a very broad range of experience and learning that may be useful to be in the room.

Alex Firman

Scottish Episcopal Institute

MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission

I have experienced Common Awards programmes as an ordinand and now as a curate in IME2. This has given me the experience of seeing what is important to at different stages of IME and I can bring that experience as a representative for everyone at different stages of IME.

I’ve also been privileged to train as an ordinand and curate with people on a wide variety of pathways, from full-time residential to part-time block teaching. I’ve seen how course content differs between each form of training and how that influences the formation of ordinands and curates based on the decisions made by TEIs. I would want to represent the concerns of all IME1 and IME2 Common Award students by listening to how different people have different needs and brining that to discussions about Common Awards training. Rather than assuming there is a neat, uniform package for everyone, I would want to bring the concerns of all students to show that theological education can respond to different needs and hopes.

I would hope as a representative not just to express the needs of training for different pathways and different IME groups but also the needs of people from different backgrounds, learning styles and ways of looking at the world. As a representative my goal isn’t promote a form that I believe Common Awards should go in but to listen, respond and represent the hopes, concerns and critiques that soon-to-be and ordained clergy have to offer about the training they receive.

Hi! I'm Samuel, and I’m excited to apply to be a student representative for the Common Awards Management Board.

When looking to study theology, I was drawn the Common Awards program because of the partnership between theological colleges, the Church of England, and Durham University. This combination of academic learning and deep-rooted Christian formation is highly effective and unique and therefore I believe it is vital to both protect and enhance it. Now in my first year at St Mellitus College, I am studying Theology with a focus on youth ministry. My pathway is part of the Church of England’s ‘30k Project,’ which aims to train 30,000 new youth and children’s workers by 2030. This initiative highlights the Church’s investment in the next generation, and I would love to ensure that voices from newer pathways like mine are heard at a national level.

I believe that a strong student representative is not just a spokesperson for one area but a bridge between all students, ensuring that every perspective is valued. A great strength of the Common Awards program is its diversity—bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds and traditions, united by a shared desire to grow in faith and understanding. A strong representative must have the ability to listen, relate and advocate for students across the entire spectrum of theological education, and I have experience of doing exactly that.

During my A levels, I served as a Religious Studies prefect, where my role was to gather and represent the views of students from different faiths, perspectives, and levels of belief. This required me to put aside personal biases and ensure that every voice was fairly represented. More recently, I completed a year-long placement with Alpha at Holy Trinity Brompton, where I engaged in meaningful conversations with hundreds of people from all walks of life. A significant part of my role was to listen carefully to concerns, understand different perspectives, and work with the team to implement changes that enhanced people’s experience. I saw firsthand how thoughtful listening, combined with decisive action, can create meaningful impact—an approach I would bring to this role, particularly when working alongside other student representatives.

Being a student representative isn’t just about gathering feedback—it’s about making sure that feedback leads to tangible change. Throughout my gap year, I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, including taking on regular public speaking engagements which has built my confidence to speak up when needed. As a student representative, I would press for improvements to ensure the needs of others are advocated for, while also recognising the importance of working collaboratively to bring about lasting, positive change.

If elected, I will be fully committed to ensuring that student voices are heard, respected, and translated into action. You can trust that your feedback will not just be acknowledged but championed. I would be honoured to serve as a representative and contribute to the continued growth and success of the Common Awards program.

I am a part-time student at Queen’s Foundation, currently in my fifth year, working towards a BA.

Throughout my time as a student at Queen’s I have been a group rep, and more recently, elected as student representative for undergraduates in the Centre for Black Theology (CBT). In my role as student rep, I communicate with a number of students and tutors, online, and in person. This role has allowed me to be a part of, and take part in, college wide quality and management meetings, eg. the AQSG and AMGM. With this experience, over the past five years, I have gained good listening skills in conversing with staff and students, hearing their concerns and perspectives. I strongly believe these experiences have prepared me to be a suitable candidate for the role as student representative within the Common Awards space.

This means I will advocate on behalf of Queen’s, ensuring that our academic concerns are heard and actions pursued, being realistic of achievable goals.  The beauty of Queens is that it is an inclusive learning space, and I am privileged to be a part of it. Communicating with students from different churches, cultural backgrounds, race, diverse abilities, sexual orientation, and gender, has even further prepared me for a role like this. Queens is like home for me, and my aim is to see us students thrive and be the best versions of ourselves. We are doing amazing work. In other words, we are the representatives of God’s love. Apart from being a student at Queen’s, I carry with me qualifications and experiences as a certified Life Coach, Health and Wellbeing Coach, and training in Counselling and Psychology, which have enhanced my listening and communication skills. I have a drive to help others find solutions in their educational, recreational, work, and other areas of life. This means I will ask the right questions to help get and produce the right outcomes in your best interests.

I would be honoured to be your Common Award Representative for the Common Awards Students Representative position. I wish you all the best in choosing the best candidate for this post who will help to make our voices heard and actioned. Many blessings, my Queen’s Family.