Today is the 142nd day
of the BRIT 2012 mile walk and I was delighted to be hosted by the University
of Chester; http://www.chester.ac.uk/
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| With the Vice Chancellor, Staff & students of the University of Chester and Fire Fighters from Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service |
I am always excited to visit the
BRIT 2012 mile challenge host locations which are chosen by young people to
ensure that BRIT and I are driven by youth who are empowered to make choices.
Prior to arriving I research each location and then during each visit I am able
to ask questions on facilities, working practice and areas that each location
are growing with their knowledge and experience. The University of Chester is a
good example of this. Their prospectus and course opportunities are impressive;
however, some of the key areas that interest me are;
The University of Chester
department of Social Work
The University of Chester
department of Mental Health and Learning Disability http://www.chester.ac.uk/health/mental_health_learning_disability.html
The University of Chester
department of Social Studies and Counselling http://www.chester.ac.uk/ssc
The University of Chester
department of Sport and Exercise Science http://www.chester.ac.uk/sport
The University of Chester
department of Health and Social Care http://www.chester.ac.uk/health
The University of Chester
department of Community and Child Health http://www.chester.ac.uk/health/cch
All of these specific areas span
the BRIT vision and I take a great deal of interest in courses available, the
research conducted, as well as views and knowledge on the constantly changing
issues facing our society and young people. In addition to visiting schools,
colleges and universities and speaking to young people I do my utmost to spend
time with students, researchers, academics, lecturers, teachers and staff to
ensure I am provided with a well-balanced education spanning personal opinions
and experiences, research and teaching programmes.
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| The BRIT Young Peoples Visionary Steering Group outside No. 10 Downing Street after the reception honouring the founding of The British Inspiration Trust |
In the beginning, our BRIT Young
People’s Visionary Steering Group was at the very core of how I wanted to
involve young people in all aspects of BRIT. The Steering Group have remained
very patient with me as I have spent so much time away on both this challenge
and also going away to learn how I can evolve BRIT as both a charity and a
Centre of Inspiration. It is my aim to bring the Steering Group back
together following my challenge so I can involve them more in all aspects of
BRIT.
Partnerships
BRIT has over 50 Advisors who are
Charity Chief Executives so that we have advice and guidance as we move forward
from charities who want the Centre of Inspiration built.
Whilst funding for the Centre
must come first and then the Centre of Inspiration built, it is also important
for me to cultivate relationships from every sector of society including
colleges and universities so that our course design and the research into our
residential programmes is of the highest level.
The BRIT vision is very much
about building a Centre of Inspiration to provide a lifeline for young people
post-trauma. It is, however, also vital that the residential courses, the
support mechanisms offered and the facilities, research and best-practice in
place at BRIT is adaptable, flexible and sustainable. To ensure that this
is achievable and visionary, I hope my visits to the hundreds of schools,
colleges and universities are the start of long-term formal partnerships and
relationships that will help deliver and enhance how BRIT is built and how it
ensures that the young people who come to the BRIT Centre are able to move
forward emotionally and mentally as well as being signposted to opportunities
of education, activities and programmes where they live anywhere within Great
Britain and Northern Ireland.
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| With the Vice Chancellor of the University of Chester, Professor Tim Wheeler |
It was a pleasure to visit the
University of Chester today and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about their
Outreach Programmes and the University’s Corporate Social Responsibility
strategy. The offer of support from the University of Chester later in
the year to involve their students, along with other schools, colleges and universities,
in supporting our Social Media Strategy is very exciting.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable day
and I am sincerely grateful to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Wheeler, for
allowing the BRIT 2012 mile walk to take place at the University. I also enjoyed
meeting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mike Thomas, who is Dean of Health and
Social Care, and Professor Sarah Andrew, who is Dean of Applied Sciences. The
students who joined me from Sports Science were very engaging and I must give
special thanks to Lynda Baguley, Corporate Events Manager, who coordinated my
visit and liaised with Clare, who gifted her time to support yet another BRIT
2012 mile walk day.
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| With Red Watch, Chester Fire Station, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service |
Finally, thank you to the Fire
Fighters from Red Watch, Chester Fire Station, who came to support me and
presented me with the Cheshire Fire and Rescue badge to be added to the BRIT
Fire Fighters Jacket that carries the badges and cap-badges from every County
Fire and Rescue Service I have visited on the BRIT 2012 mile walk.
I finished Day 142 with 1037
miles to go.
With best wishes,
Phil