Alumnus of the Month: April 2023

Spencer Caminsky is our Verulam School May 2023 Alumnus of the Month. Spencer left Verulam School in 2016 and is now the campaigns organiser for the St Albans Liberal Democrats.

Please tell us a little about yourself – where do you work and how did you get into this role?

I work as the Campaign Organiser for the St Albans Liberal Democrats. After gaining a passion for Politics whilst studying at Verulam, I wrote articles for the local newspaper and eventually ran youth democratic engagement campaigns for a social enterprise in London for nearly 3 years. Eventually I decided to devote my newfound interest in issue-based campaigning to more political causes closer to home, and applied for the position I hold now.

What are some of your proudest achievements since leaving Verulam School?

Running London Voter Registration Weeks 2020, 2021 and 2022 with Shout Out UK and the Greater London Authority, a campaign committed to encouraging young, BAME and private renting Londoners to register to vote during a 1-week period. These campaigns reached over 10 million Londoners, and led to over 60,000 people registering to vote in the capital
Running the Youth Policy Development Group with Shout Out UK and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The project involved convening and training a group of 30 young people, to advise on policy-making in England via monthly roundtable discussions with government ministers and senior policy makers
Leading strategy and comms for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Political Literacy, bringing politicians from all major parties together to discuss improving the provision of democratic education in schools and youth clubs in Britain
Helping organise a campaign to get Liberal Democrats elected in all St Albans wards in May 2023!

What advice would you give someone looking to follow a similar career path?

Try your hand at everything, as soon as possible! Look for events, go to every one you find out about, talk to people there and put yourself out there to get shadowing programmes here and unpaid internships there. They allow you to figure out exactly what kind of work you like and don’t like.

How have your experiences at Verulam School contributed to your life and successes since leaving school?

I think Verulam gave me the confidence to put myself out there and seize opportunities when they came my way. As a prefect (and senior prefect especially) you’re given a ton of opportunities to speak to strangers via tours, and attend events after school hours. Those events prepped me well for speaking to people and network down the line.

What House were you in at Verulam School and can you describe one of your fondest memories?

Hamilton! Fond memories included Mills Match, cross-country races and Sports Day. Also brought ball hockey to the school which was a blast.

What’s next?

Not sure yet! Hopefully writing speeches and running election campaigns for the leaders I’m inspired by most.

We love hearing what our alumni have been doing since leaving Verulam School. Each month, we are inviting a member of our alumni community to share their story of life after Verulam. If you’re an alumnus who would like to take part, or you’d like to volunteer an alumnus that you know, then please drop us an email.