The BRIT Reception at Downing StreetThe reception on the 25th November at No.10, hosted by the Prime Minister, to mark the founding of the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) was a remarkable day for all our BRIT Young People’s Visionary Steering Group and I. We invited 60 inspirational guests to listen to our update and to enthuse them to support us. It was the beginning of our journey and now we will follow up with each of our guests and I have asked them for an hour of their time – I need to be out there and I need to enthuse business leaders to support us. BRIT and I want to engage with founder partners and we want to ensure we involve every sector of society. We also need expertise through BRIT Advisors and we want young people to identify Inspirational Figures to be BRIT Mentors. Dame Kelly Holmes has supported me from the beginning with words of encouragement and listens to what we are trying to achieve. I watched Dame Kelly with our Young People and the way she enthuses, understands and encourages. Dame Kelly is a super example of BRIT meeting with a charitable foundation and working out how we support each other. Sally Gunnell is another example of a friend, supporter and someone who wants to share with others what BRIT is all about. We are being joined by a wide array of Inspirational Figures who are willing to listen and advise and assist where they can; I am delighted and enthused by their willingness and their support. I am grateful to everyone who was involved in making the reception happen and for attending such an important event for us.
Working Together
Last week gave me confidence we are moving in the right direction. I attended the Action for Children reception as a guest of their CEO, Dame Clare Tickell, and then meet with Pauline Etkin, CEO of the Nordoff Robbins Music Charity. Dame Clare has been a BRIT Advisor for some time and I was delighted that Pauline accepted my request to join BRIT as an Advisor. The only way we can deliver to Young People facing Adversity is by partnering with charities and being a charity for charities. Supporting Young People facing Adversity for me is inspiring, but challenging – I am constantly learning from charities and from meeting and talking to Young People who explain exactly how they feel and what they need.
I am fortunate to remain independent so I can support charities at the right time as their Envoy, more than as an Ambassador or Patron, as this allows me to signpost support and link people together. I am asked if I spread myself to thinly; my answer is always no; there is always time, always a new area for me to be educated and my job is to learn from charities to ensure BRIT delivers a Centre for their Young People; this is my full time job and supporting other charities is the best way for me to meet Young People and discuss issues. This has also been the basis for forming the BRIT Young People’s Visionary Steering Group which is comprised of Young People who face or have faced Adversity who have parent charities; they are all experienced, energetic and keen to guide, steer and support me as we move BRIT forward together as a team. BRIT is a Young People’s charity for Young People facing Adversity that is steered by Young People facing Adversity – we must get this right and we must understand the issues and most of all, we must empower young people whilst managing their expectations.
Statistics that underpin what we aspire to support
I thought that Ian Birrell’s column in the London Evening Standard was extraordinarily powerful and compelling to read (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23903236-idayah-is-a-bright-child-one-of-a-spurned-minority.do). BRIT is about empowering, educating, enthusing and inspiring. I am constantly shocked and stunned by the statistics of just how hard it can be for Young People; the number of Young People who face the many forms of Adversity, the number of young carers and the number of those facing adversity who are unemployed or who need opportunities.
Next week I will meet Baroness Campbell and Baroness Tanni Gray-Thompson at the House of Lords. This is one of the most important meetings I will attend. BRIT needs to reach out to young people and involve them in discussion, allow them to voice themselves and BRIT needs support from subject matter experts who understand the complex issues. Gaining their support will be vital as we move forward.
The positive messaging
Neither BRIT, nor I, intend to criticize individuals or organizations; we want to champion the best methods, best practice and the positive aspects of support and show people who is delivering, who is supporting and who understands. I do want to ensure though that we recognize situations, recognize problems and we bring them to the fore with potential solutions. There is far too much negativity and criticism already and this is not what BRIT is about. We are intent on inspiring; about inspirational stories, opportunities and people – we are about delivering hope, ambition, encouragement and making sure that there is more empathy, understanding and encouragement for Young People facing Adversity.
I feel deeply saddened to continue to read of the increasing rise in hate crimes against the disabled and of cases of bullying
I have lived with a disability for a very short period of time and whilst it has been a challenge to adapt physically, the mental anguish and psychological battle can be extremely difficult at times. By my own admission I have been, and am, solely focused on supporting Young People facing Adversity, BRIT and building a Centre of Inspirational Excellence for Young People. My occasionally misinterpreted bloody-mindedness and over-enthusiasm actually buries the negative feelings that occasionally creep in – supporting Young People facing Adversity is my focus, my new battle and one I am determined to win. I am constantly delighted to see the rise in support for our wounded and whilst I understand and acknowledge different views on the why, I have never heard any hostility to our wounded, nor the situation that our wounded find themselves in when dealing with their disability, condition or adversity. I appreciate that there is the element of pride in supporting our wounded so perhaps the positive awareness has changed our understanding and empathy in a specific area, however what I cannot understand is the continuous hate crimes against the disabled and the negativity they can endure within the communities that they live in. Everyone enduring a life with a disability faces adversity of some description, but to be singled out and be the victim of a crime for their disability is something I find deeply sad and so very wrong. Perhaps it is a lack of understanding disability, an easy target to vent anger and frustration at or an extreme form of bullying on a spectrum of crime against another; whatever the reason, I hope that I and BRIT can give the opportunity for Young People facing Adversity to voice themselves and explain what they need and what changes they feel should be made to allow them to live an improved quality of life and to be afforded the opportunities to live life to the full and to have fun. I hope BRIT will encourage others to understand journeys of adversity and we can begin to assist and support in educating and sharing knowledge by young people sharing their own stories and explaining the difficulties they endure.
Throughout my own journey I have understood that there is more dignity, more strength and more honour in learning, understanding and supporting others than directing hate, anger and violence against another. It is imperative that anyone who is the victim of a hate crime or bullying comes forward and reports it; there are outstanding support agencies that exist to assist and help and it is vital for someone with a disability who finds themselves in a situation to be able to communicate their concern and their fear, knowing that others will listen, understand and protect.
BRIT is about inspiring those Young People facing Adversity who are enduring their dark times. I am intent on partnering with charities and support organizations to provide a network and drawing together the very best from every sector of society to be part of BRIT. It is in the most difficult situations that we need to be inspired to draw strength and hope and it is now, that I am calling upon the most inspiring figures from across the country to stand with me as BRIT Mentors and enthuse, encourage and inspire those young people that look for inspiration, that need inspiration and need vital support.