This month we are looking forward to our work in new partnerships and reflecting on feedback from our project to provide free coaching to frontline workers during the Covid-19 crisis. We also want to spread some good news to young people, highlighting two brilliant new development and funding opportunities for them.

New partnership work begins

Our work with people in the Refugee and Migration sector will start in July. This new project spearheaded by Lived Experience Movement and Clore Social Leadership will see Hormoz coaching leaders in the sector as part of a small team. Like Hormoz, many of the programme participants will have their own lived experience of being immigrants to the UK or refugees. 

Another new partnership is with Koreo. We met their founder, Rachel Whale, in October 2019. It was quite a powerful meeting of like-minded people, with both organisations sharing similar visions and values. The introduction to Koreo was made by one of our friends and advisors Ruth Ibegbuna who heads consultancy, Northern Soul.

We delivered some trial coaching sessions and were pleased to find out that our coaching approach is in line with how Koreo works.

We are delighted to be joining a fantastic team as coaches and workshop associates to deliver the Lottery-funded ‘Big Local’ project run by The Local Trust, Koreo and Northern Soul for the Community Leadership Academy.

Result CIC has consistently thrived on partnerships and these new ones with Clore, Lived Experience Movement and Koreo, demonstrate the importance of building strong alliances with similar people and organisations.

Coaching frontline workers

From April to June we have offered free coaching, drawing on our Inclusion Fund, to frontline workers during the health crisis. 70% of these worked for the NHS. Most participants had never considered coaching before. One said:

‘We would never have done this before if it hadn’t been for this initiative. I didn’t know much about coaching before I started these situations but am now totally converted!’

Several participants commented on how they were able to feel more positive as a result of the coaching conversations:

‘I have been putting a few of your suggestions into action. I have to say that it has had a very positive effect on my approach and my well-being. I have felt more positive over the past week and intend to continue this way.’

A senior medic commented that, ‘from the very first session I found my day-to-day outlook changed for the better. I have incorporated lessons from them into my working and home life.’

Other participants noted impact such as:

• being able to communicate more openly and better with colleagues
• reframing challenging situations to be able to manage them better
• setting realistic goals in the shorter-term during the pandemic
• choosing to make better use of personal resources
• lowering stress levels
• being more focused and positive
• being clearer about their decision-making.

Our team of coaches all commented on how rewarding this work had been. We felt privileged to work on this project and have learned a lot in the process.

Opportunities for young people: leadership and social change

The current crisis is having a huge impact on young people. So we are glad to be able to help publicize two brilliant initiatives for them.

Common Purpose has created UK101 Leadership Programme for Young Leaders. This free, interactive online programme is open to 18–25 year olds. It offers participants the chance to connect with each other and explore the UK101 leadership model, which has been co-created with 1,000 young people. Applications are now open via commonpurpose.org/uk101. 

Are you a social changemaker? If you are between 18 and 25 and want to make radical changes happen in society to reduce injustice, then the Blagrave Trust’s new Change and Challenge Fund could be for you. The Fund comments that:

‘History illuminates the capacity and courage of young people to drive change, but for far too long their ideas have been restricted or constrained. Power is often held by adult-led initiatives that end up speaking on their behalf or controlling or leading their ideas. This fund wants to change that and move power and resources to young people.’

As well as a package of mentoring and network support for your ideas and projects, there are grants you can apply for from £1,000 to £10,000.

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