TEN issues, 64 team members and a readership of 13,128 - Bury College A Level student Saeed Atcha is celebrating the start of a promising future.
Saeed has celebrated his third year of success with the teen publication Xplode Magazine, an ambitious project which gained funding from 02 Think Big in 2011. The Bolton-based magazine had a clear mission, to create a magazine by young people, for young people, to enable the youth of today to realise and achieve their full potential.
Enjoying a wealth of opportunities built upon his success, 18-year-old Saeed has enjoyed many highlights along his journey, including watching his team of volunteers grow from 7 to 64, forming partnerships with local businesses and achieving recognition as a registered charity. Alongside the achievements of the magazine, Saeed also won the national Young Achievers Award, secured a regular Saturday morning show on VTV Radio and won the Enterprise Award at the annual Bury College Celebration of Achievement event.
The former pupil of Ladybridge High School, who recently secured B grades in ALevel Media and English Language and a grade C in ALevel Business Studies said: "I am really proud of how much I have achieved over the past few years, inparticular the growth of young people who are volunteering to ensure the success of Xplode. The tutors at Bury College have been really helpful in offering me guidance and they have equipped me with a lot of academic skills."
The third year birthday celebrations were well attended by officials including the Mayor of Bolton and the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, who acts as a representative of the Queen. Also in attendance were businesses Xplode magazine works in partnerships with.