Friday, June 10, 2011

Inspiring Young People Together

Over the last three years I have been privileged to be asked to support a number of charities and have spent time with charity chief executives, charity workers as well as Young People and families who are supported by charities. From those encounters the British Inspiration Trust was developed and founded to build a Centre for charities to send Young People they identify as being in desperate need of self-belief and inspiration. BRIT is a conduit for charities and Young People. Whilst championing the great work of existing charities BRIT works to ensure that we do not compete or duplicate effort. BRIT will partner with charities for advice on the build of the BRIT Centre of Inspirational Excellence, ask charity “deliverers” to work with BRIT to run bespoke courses and will introduce Young People to charities who provide opportunities and support, both regionally and nationally.  By operating as a conduit between charities and young people BRIT is able to partner with and discuss how we can complement one another. This allows for positive energy, innovation and creativity. Working together we can achieve so much more for our Young People. I am often asked a simple question:  Why BRIT?  After all there are over 100,000 charities in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Thousands evolve every year and thousands cease to exist every year.My response is that BRIT is a hub bringing different charities together with the express purpose of enriching the lives of Young People that are struggling through difficult times. Charities exist to serve others and by doing so, have evolved to provide bespoke care, services and support. By harnessing our energy and passion, leveraging our strength and know how, we can share best practices and create a new and visionary approach for working together. What can BRIT do to make a positive difference to charities supporting Young People no matter how big or small they are? Our aspirations are straightforward;·        
  • Build a Centre for charities that will share best practice both in design, facilities and opportunities.
  • For all charity partners to feel that they are integral to the BRIT Centre.
  • Empower Young People to make decisions and steer BRIT to deliver what they want.
    Champion every charity supporting Young People by offering them the opportunity to be part of one Map, at no cost, that Young People and their families can access. 
  • Ask thousands of corporations to help build the Centre so the public can continue to give their donations to existing charities.
  • Enthuse Inspirational Figures to come and meet Young People and understand more of Young People and their parent charity.

    Since launching BRIT, over 30 Charity CEOs have stepped forward as Advisors, paving the way for more charities to partner with BRIT and offer advice, support and guidance. Everyone seems to understand the simple aim of BRIT: to bring people together to inspire our Young People.  The next steps for BRIT are threefold:·       
    • Continue to build partnerships with charities, complimenting their work and ensuring that the BRIT Centre will help Young People regain self-belief.
    • Make BRIT a project and an organisation that Young People from charities, schools and groups across Great Britain can champion and support.·      
    • Build business partners who will Pledge their support for BRIT to construct the first National Centre of Inspirational Excellence.
    It is an absolute delight that all the charities and the charity CEOs I am approaching agree and are giving their support and endorsements to BRIT; it is positive and uplifting. Working together to inspire Young People through a national centre for inspiration that has young people at the heart of all BRIT activity is a challenging, but rewarding journey. I draw great strength that charities are willing to step forward, show young people the power of working together and that a new approach can enthuse businesses, the public and young people to become involved and give support in different ways.

    Working together we can champion our charity partners, build the BRIT Center and most importantly inspire Young People.

    Phil