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Leadership Coach | Building Unshakeable Confidence & Resilient Mindsets | NLP Practitioner | Speaker
Let me tell you about yesterday. I attended Raise Up, and whilst I was excited to support the event with Sara Lawton (Pgcert) Valerie Bounds ✨and Dawn Paine and its message, I was not prepared for what I was about to experience. It blew me away! Personal stories and journeys that educated and inspired us, alongside practical insights from organisations supporting young people into employment. With a focus on how businesses can do more – and do better. Here's what stood out: The power of connection: Did you know that just four touchpoints with employers can massively improve a young person's outlook and future? Get talking, people! Practical support matters: - Consider paying for a young person to attend an interview - Make adjustments if they don't have access to tech for online recruitment - Offer work placements – they showcase what someone can do far better than any interview Young voices on stage: Hearing from apprentices who stood in front of hundreds of people to share their experiences was incredible. They were all fab – authentic, and proof of what's possible with the right support. The entrepreneur panel: The local entrepreneurs demonstrated exactly what you can achieve when you start and go for it. Sara Davies MBE What a woman! So down to earth and inspiring. Her message hit home: "Opportunity doesn't come knocking – you have to go out there and find it." I know I do this and putting yourself out there can be scary, so imagine being young with little experience. Now couple that with being a care leaver or having minimal support from home! Listening to Ashley John-Baptiste was really touching and insightful for this. When you step in those shoes for just a moment, you get a tiny glimpse of how hard it is to put yourself forward and get a job. So businesses and employers need to do better. (Many already are!) Give young people a chance. Meet them in the middle – or better yet, meet them where they are and bring them along. As a coach, Sara's advice about finding a mentor resonated deeply. Working with a coach or mentor will undoubtedly get you where you want to go faster. They keep you focused, accountable, and most importantly – they support you and believe in you, often before you believe in yourself. If you weren't there yesterday, you missed something special. A truly inspiring and uplifting day for young people and the businesses there to support them. I can't wait to support this event again, but more importantly – I'm committed to doing a little bit every day in how I show up to listen, see, and believe in young people wanting to work and find opportunities. They're all around us. Let's get to work! Lovely as always to see these amazing humans Ellen (Ellie) Kerr Moira O'Shaughnessy Gemma Longworth Chris Clark Claire Merryweather MCIPR Rae Brooke Karen Morris Sam Byrne Amanda Unsworth Kate Martinez Leon McCowan