Each week Bath Business News gives a prominent member of the city’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin. This week Jamie Luck, director of Bath charity Mentoring Plus, answers our 10 questions.
What was the LAST: 
Film you watched? Dunkirk at the Little Theatre. An amazing venue for a beautiful and stark piece of cinema. I visited the Imperial War Museum the weekend before and my son and I got a bit obsessed with the Spitfire hanging from the ceiling. The final scene of this same plane in the film felt pretty remarkable – the best and worst of human nature.
Book you read? The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It was discussed on a YouTube talk I was watching, which is my lazy alternative to reading at bedtime. The book is intended as a guide for living in the present moment, and I’m aware of how much of my 39 years I missed thinking about the past or planning for the future. It’s pretty ‘far out’ in places which, as a long-term sceptic, is a healthy challenge!
Music you bought or downloaded? Loyle Carner’s debut album Yesterday’s Gone on vinyl and download – I love the fact that you get the best of both worlds with formats these days. He’s an amazing young British hip-hop artist who challenges expectations of the form. I also respect his commitment to helping others; he’s set up a cookery project for teenagers with ADHD, as cooking was an escape when he was struggling in his youth with the condition. His track The Isle of Arran is definitely worth a listen.
Concert or play you went to? Matilda the Musical in the West End with my nine-year-old daughter. It’s an uplifting masterpiece that we can’t get enough of. This was our third time.
Sporting event you attended? Bath City FC v Poole Town. My son’s first match at Twerton Park.
Holiday you went on? Camping with the family in the Blackdown Hills, Devon – beautiful weather until it came to taking the tent down. I loved the simplicity of camping as a kid. My children seem so much happier playing on a campsite away from the temptations of TV and iPads at home. Getting young people away from home, active and outdoors is a big part of what we try to achieve through our Mentoring Plus programme. For example, right now we have 12 teenagers who have chosen to spend a week on a farm with no sugar or phones allowed all week! They love it and seem much calmer and happier for this kind of experience.
Restaurant you ate in? Does a Happy Meal at McDonalds at Victoria Station count? If not, it might be our staff Christmas meal at The Griffin Inn.
Thing that annoyed you? I regularly get annoyed with myself for getting irritated about things that aren’t worth getting annoyed about!
Thing that made you laugh out loud? My son’s school class photo. He’s the one pulling the silly face in the front row.
Piece of good advice you were given? Because you are alive, everything is possible. ― Thích Nhất Hạnh
Jamie Luck has been director of Mentoring Plus since 2013. The charity trains and supports adult volunteers to mentor young people aged between seven and 21 who need extra support with family, education, emotional needs or employment. Prior to this position he worked for the education department at the Royal Shakespeare Company for four years in various roles – head of the young people’s programme, creative associate and lead practitioner – producing and delivering young people’s work across England and beyond. Jamie also worked for Theatre Royal Bath for seven years, as part of the team that launched the egg – latterly as head of education. Alongside a degree in English Literature, Jamie volunteered as a journalist for The Big Issue (and interviewed Banksy) and also ran children’s residential holidays for Superweeks. This volunteering led to his breakthrough job on graduating – competing with more than 100 candidates to become education apprentice at the National Theatre. Jamie has also freelanced for Arts Council, Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Bristol.
