RISE UP

📣 Call for Speakers! Our Building Aspirations Programme in partnership with RSA & UK Youth returns on 11th & 12th November, and we’re looking for inspiring individuals to share their stories with the next generation of talent! 🌟 Whether you’d like to give a presentation or join our panel, this is a chance to make a meaningful impact on young people eager to shape their futures. As one participant shared from our recent cohort earlier this month, “Everyone was really nice, understanding, and supportive. I really appreciate the team for taking the time to support us and give us information and clarity.” Help us continue making a difference by bringing your experience to the programme. If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out! 💬

Day One complete for Ethan Whyte! 🎉 A huge thank you to Mari Saeki and Andrew Woodhouse for kicking off the day by setting up workflows and spending time with Ethan this morning. Your support has made a fantastic start to his work experience journey! After a team lunch, we had the pleasure of visiting MBH Global - B Corp™ - Sustainable IT Lifecycle Management impressive facilities in Dukinfield. It was inspiring to see the incredible work they do firsthand! A special shout-out to Dean Ivell and Matthew Harrop for their incredible generosity - they’ve donated an iMac to Ethan, which he’ll be able to take home at the end of his week with us. This gesture will make a big difference as he continues his learning journey/ prepares to kick-start his career! 💻✨

Welcome, Ethan Whyte! 🌟 We’re thrilled to welcome Ethan for a week of hands-on work experience with us at RISE UP! Ethan is our first-ever work experience student, joining us as part of our collaboration with the Neurodiversity Network—a step forward in our commitment to creating inclusive and empowering opportunities for all. Throughout this week, Ethan will dive into a range of exciting activities, connecting with professionals across various business sectors. As a student in Social Media Marketing and Digital Business, Ethan is eager to learn, grow, and gain real-world insights from experts in the field. Calling all Social Media & Digital Business pros💡 If you’re experienced in these areas and would like to share your expertise or personal journey with Ethan, please reach out! Let’s make this week an inspiring and memorable one.

Almost one million young people are unemployed! 😩 It’s easy to hyper-focus on a single problem group, but tackling youth unemployment requires a multi-faceted approach. If we all show up 5-10% better, together we can create a significant impact on this crisis. 💯 Plot twist: Young people do want to work! The reality is that 1 million young lives are in limbo, and we’ve all got a responsibility to provide clear pathways to employment.  This isn’t just a social issue it’s an economic one. Youth unemployment is a crisis we can't afford, and we must unlock the potential of this untapped workforce. Every one of us: employers, educators, mentors—needs to take action. Here's a snippet from a recent talk I did at RSA, which was accessed by 2,000 staff as part of our partnership with UK Youth. I am proud to lead RISE UP, a charity dedicated to empowering young people. Why don’t we work together to turn "Almost 1 million unemployed young people" into "Opportunities for the future." 🙏 What’s one way YOU or your company can contribute to this change today? 👇

🚀 We’re thrilled to announce the successful completion of our second cohort in the Building Aspirations Programme, delivered in partnership with RSA & UK Youth! 🎉 Earlier this week, these remarkable young people tackled their fears, developed vital skills, and built their confidence to take on the future with determination. From mastering the power of body language to refining their interview techniques, they’ve shown incredible growth! 🙌✨ A huge thank you to one our special guests, Damian Gannon from CAE Technology Services Limited, for delivering an inspiring session on interview skills and of course a great BIG thank you to all of our panel speakers: Lois May, Lloyd Coulthurst, Cathy and Roman Dibden! We also kicked off our scholarships initiative and celebrated each participant’s achievements with a special certificate ceremony. 🎓🔥 Our charity Director, Roman Dibden has written a blog about the recent programme and we are delighted to announce we will be doing it all again in November! At RISE UP, we’re committed to empowering and mentoring young talent beyond the programme, and we’re excited to continue supporting these aspiring individuals as they take their next steps. This is why we do what we do – because the future is bright for these young leaders! 💯 https://lnkd.in/eMDfa_2T

Day Two is officially a wrap! 🎬 What an incredible experience it’s been running Cohort 2 of our Building Aspirations Programme, delivered in partnership with RSA & UK Youth! 😍 Today, we dove into the power of body language and polished our interview techniques, setting our participants up for success. We also kicked off our scholarship applications and celebrated each person’s achievements with well-deserved certificates. 🎓✨ A huge thank you to our special guest, Damian Gannon for delivering an insightful session on interview techniques – your expertise was invaluable! 🙏 We’re beyond excited to see what the future holds for these amazing young people. This is just the beginning! 🚀

We couldn't be more excited for Day Two of our Building Aspirations Programme! The grand finale for our second cohort! 🎉 Yesterday, we tackled the powerful topic of FEAR, which we redefined as False Evidence Appearing Real. Through insightful discussions and activities, we helped our participants develop practical and empowering coping mechanisms. 🙌 The day also featured an inspiring panel session, hosted by Amos Madra, with brilliant insights from Lloyd Coulthurst, Roman Dibden, Cathy, and Lois May. Their wisdom left a lasting impression on everyone! Today is set to be just as impactful, with a packed agenda designed to push boundaries and unlock potential. But the journey doesn’t end here! In true RISE UP fashion, we’re committed to ongoing 1-on-1 mentoring for these exceptional young people. We can’t wait to see the incredible steps they’ll take next! 🚀

🚀 Big News: RISE UP Joins Movement to Work! 🚀 We're excited to announce that RISE UP is now part of the national Movement to Work initiative, helping to tackle youth unemployment and provide valuable work experiences for young people. 🌟 At RISE UP, our aim is simple: To empower young people from marginalised communities through education, skills, and employability. Partnering with Movement to Work means we’re one step closer to ensuring no young person gets left behind. Together, we’ll: ✅ Create meaningful work experiences ✅ Support young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) ✅ Break barriers to build a brighter, more inclusive future 💼✨ Our Charity Director, Roman Dibden, says it best: "Joining Movement to Work is a monumental step for RISE UP. It aligns perfectly with our mission to transform lives and futures. As someone who has personally faced barriers in education and employment, I know how essential it is to create pathways for those who need it most. Together, we can make a real, lasting impact" 🌍 Let’s work together to uplift young talent and shape a future where everyone can thrive. Stay tuned for updates and learn how YOU can get involved!

🚀 Our Building Aspirations Programme is Back! 🚀 Starting Monday, we’re thrilled to welcome 30 talented young people to our Building Aspirations programme, where they’ll gain the skills to stand out from the crowd! 🙌 In true Manchester style, we’re doing things a little differently this time - delivering the programme over two jam-packed days. Instead of one facilitator, we’ll be welcoming guest speakers from a diverse range of industries, bringing a wealth of knowledge and real-world insights. 🌟 We’re especially excited for Monday afternoon's panel event featuring: 🎤 Lois May, Lloyd Coulthurst, Roman Dibden & someone from RSA. But that’s not all! 🎉 Our amazing participants will have the chance to apply for a scholarship of up to £750 to help kick-start their next steps and achieve their goals. We can't wait to get started and see how these young people take their aspirations to the next level! Here's a few snippets from our August cohort...

Yesterday marked three months sober for me, and I celebrated in style! 🎉 Well, sort of... I attended the JCI Manchester Young Talent Awards shortlist party at Impossible MCR, and what an amazing event it was! It was such a pleasure connecting with so many talented and inspiring individuals from across the city who've also been shortlisted. Going sober has been challenging—especially with all the recent networking events and socials. But deep down, I know it's the best decision for my wellbeing, my team, and everyone around me. It feels good to be fully present and bring my best self to every situation! ❤️ A special shoutout to the incredible Bella Dures-Varle who’s not only been shortlisted for one award but three!💥 She’s smashing it, and I’m so proud.🤩 Bring on the awards night! 🏆 I'm wrapping up a hectic week with a trip to London for some meetings. If any of my connections are up for grabbing a coffee or fancy a jog around Kensington Gardens, let me know! 🤙