The heat of the moment
As we approach the end of the academic year, for us there are some themes that are driven by the heartbeat of the educational calendar.
Firstly, we’re reminded of the importance of celebrating achievement. It’s so easy to adopt the mind-set of moving on to the next challenge but there is a real richness in stopping to reflect and celebrate at the end of a cycle of work. We celebrate our participants – those young people and adults who have the courage to create change in their lives. We celebrate the vision of those who commission Grit, like Emma (who you can read about below), being willing to champion a challenging journey for her team. And we celebrate Grit’s journey - 31 years of being agile, innovative and passionate about creating transformation for 1000s of people.
It is a time for letting go and saying goodbye. Students across the country are leaving one school for another, moving on to university or graduating. There is always an element of letting go …. of friendships, of institutions, of the belonging you created. For us, there is a sad goodbye to one of the longest serving members of Grit’s Advisory Board whose wonderful words about the organisation feature on the landing page of our website. Lord Nicholas Phillips has been a true Grit champion and we’ll be celebrating the huge contribution in our next newsletter.
Finally, with goodbyes there is the space to make a new start. To me, that physical process of emptying my school bag of all the rubbish I’d accumulated over the school year in July and refilling it with new stationery in September always did feel symbolic. New starts sit at the heart of Grit and, alongside the freedom a new start brings, there is the commitment it takes to declare where you are moving to, then to keep your word as you forge ahead. This is epitomised by our Westminster students’ comments below.
We hope you have time to reflect over the summer on your own achievements, on any letting go you’d like to do and the opportunity that always exists for a new start. Thank you as always for your company on the journey through this academic year.
Ellie
The heat of the moment
Recently snapped - Grit Trainer Dionne on the legendary Bath Spa University giant deck chair, taking some time out with students of African, Arab, Asian, and Caribbean heritage on our Empowers programme.
There was connection, community and celebrating achievement. We saw how the impossible can become possible... and the sun just kept on shining!
On stream
Over the last year or so we’ve been building a collection of short films where students, staff and youth professionals talk about their Grit experience – you may have seen some of them. They’re proving pretty popular.
So, we’ve been doing a spot of curating so it’s a little easier to find the ones you want to watch a little easier.
Head on over to our re-vamped YouTube Channel and take a look!
Being brave
Emma leads a Community Safety Partnership in Cumberland which brings together local organisations, such as the council, police, social services and charities, to work together on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. She commissioned a Grit programme for staff across the Partnership.
“We wanted something different. We were looking for a new way of thinking, a new way of working together that would transform the way we think about and work with young people. We needed to be brave.
So, I commissioned Grit - and wow!”
Read about what happened next here.
Volunteers Wanted!
Do you live in or around Brent? Are you passionate about making a real difference with young people?
Are you up for volunteering as a Grit Life Coach to help a young person turn their life around?
In partnership with Ark Elvin Academy in Wembley, in the autumn of 2023 Grit is running a project supporting students to make the most of their education, and to develop their skills and talents.
We are looking for volunteers (aged 23+) with the enthusiasm, commitment, and time to make it happen. No previous experience required. We provide comprehensive training and support – free.
For more information and to register your interest, please contact hayley@grit.org.uk or call 07469 697987
“The experience has been mind-blowing. I’m getting goose bumps just talking about it.”
Grit volunteer 2021
It’s in the commitment
Recently we delivered a 2 day workshop with students at the University of Westminster. This is what the students told us they would now be doing differently …
