Pick of the Month – February 2023

February's Pick of the Month is really diverse – from a social entrpreneur in green tech to trustees empowering individual autonomy. Our Senior Fellow talks about theatre and its emegrance post-COVID, and we hear from a charity leader who has made (and is making!) brilliant change in the environment sector. There's lots to be inspired by here, so do read through this month's picks!​

 

Social Entrepreneur of the Month – Blair Henry, The Blair Project 

The Blair Project is a youth-led social enterprise based in Manchester which provides opportunities for young people to participate in the green tech revolution through building, racing and accelerating innovations in electric go karts. At the heart of the mission of The Blair Project, is the story of two Black British teenage brothers, Nile and Blair Henry, who set out to challenge the elitism of motorsport and make it more accessible, inclusive and sustainable.

 

Blair told us about his journey with The Blair Project: 

“When we first started The Blair Project, Diversity in Motorsport was laughed at and now it has become the fashion! My brother Nile and I have become the champions of Diversity and Inclusion in motorsport.”

 

He also told us about some of the projects they’ve been involved in: 

“We’ve helped organisations including Formula One to recruit apprentices from Black and Asian backgrounds for its #WeRaceAsOne initiative. Programmes such as our ProtoEV STEM Challenge have too been effective for working with marginalised youth and introducing them to the world of career opportunities that are available to them as innovators, technicians, engineers and entrepreneurs!”

 

Finally, Blair passed on his advice to any aspiring social entrepreneurs out there:

“Being an entrepreneur can be a roller coaster ride at times, you’ll have great days and not so great days. Sometimes you might even have a terrible day. For me, it’s important to always stay focused and level-headed, so eventually whatever it is that you are working towards will become a reality.”

 

Hear more about what Blair and Nile are up to on Twitter at @GetMeMotoring.

 

Fellow of the Month – Danielle Fearnley, Octagon Theatre 

Bolton’s Octagon Theatre is one of the city’s principal arts spaces. With a focus on civic investment and community engagement, its programme is diverse, ranging from comedy nights and musicals to its vibrant Youth Theatre. The Theatre’s Head of Development, Danielle Fearnley, started work in the arts at just 16 years old as a theatre usher which would lead to a number of subsequent arts roles.

“After University, I worked in Stage Management for a time, I then later perused a career in Marketing and Fundraising. This included as Marketing & Development Officer at The Dukes in Lancaster, and then back at the Octagon where I was appointed Development Manager at the start of a major capital campaign. I've since progressed to Head of Development on the Senior Management Team, leading the organisation's fundraising strategy and delivery.”

 

Considering the UK theatre landscape, Danielle highlights the opportunities to be uncovered across a difficult period:

“Bolton is a richly diverse town, where so many people are passionate about bringing people together. However, it also faces challenges, and the difficulties of the past few years, combined with current pressures on the Cost of Living, have exasperated pre-existing inequalities. Whilst this presents many challenges to us as an organisation, it also presents opportunities to work with other partners, both across and outside of the arts, to have a really positive impact at such a difficult time.”

 

On the opportunities to be found on the Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy Fellowship Programme, Danielle said:

“I'm so grateful for the opportunity to partake in the Fellowship, from both a personal development perspective and for the increased capabilities I hope it will bring to the Octagon in fundraising, income generation and leadership. I'm really looking forward to getting to know the other fellows and sharing learnings across the year. I'm particularly excited that there is a range of arts organisations involved, as coming from a predominantly theatre background I'm eager to learn from other organisations across the sector which might be facing similar challenges and opportunities to the Octagon, but are approaching them with different perspectives.”

 

Finally, Danielle asserts the value of arts buildings as community spaces, and why we must continue to embed the arts at the heart of towns and cities: 

“I'm really passionate about the civic role of arts organisations being increasingly front and centre of strategy and messaging. I've been lucky to work for an organisation that has been on a huge journey of learning and development over recent years, and I'm grateful to work in a team that believes in rooting an organisation in the community. I am passionate about the potential that really embracing this can have towards tackling many of the challenges arts organisations face - particularly in fundraising and generating awareness of the overall charitable impact of the arts and culture on individuals and society.”

 

Keep up to date with Danielle’s work at the Octagon Theatre on Twitter at @octagontheatre.

 

Trustee of the Month – Michelle Freer, You Before Two 

Founded in 2019 by Dr Rebecca Foljambe, You Before Two is a charity working to empower and educate young people to consider themselves (the ‘you’) before entering into a serious relationship or having a baby (the ‘two’). The charity’s aim is to emphasise the importance of education in making life decisions and to encourage a young person to seek out and feel entitled to a strong sense of autonomy, before committing to something serious.

 

As a Trustee on the Board of You Before Two, Michelle told us a bit about her experience so far: 

“As a new Trustee, I have been fortunate to become involved in You Before Two. My induction into You Before Two has been very welcoming and inclusive of an introduction to the team, a clear set out strategic plan and a full induction pack. I am looking forward to fulfilling my role as Trustee!”

 

On her reason for joining the Board, Michelle said: 

“I wanted to become a Trustee because I wanted an opportunity to work with like-minded people for a cause that I believe in as well as to learn and develop my current management skills.”

 

Finally, on whether she would recommend the role to others, Michelle said:

“I am one of the youngest Trustees in the UK, but I’d recommend the role to everyone, it’s fantastic and such a positive way to give back and steer positive change.”

 

Stay up to date with You Before Two on Instagram at @youbeforetwo

 

Charity Leader of the Month – Maxwell A. Ayamba BEM, Sheffield Environmental Movement

Maxwell Ayamba is the Founder and Director of the Sheffield Environmental Movement (SEM). Brought up in rural Northern Ghana, Maxwell has long held a close bond and affinity to nature since his youth.

“Set up in 2016, SEM promotes the connection of people from minoritised communities to their natural environment. The charity aims to make a more equitable English countryside, where the ecological diversity is matched by human diversity – both in those visiting and working in the environmental sector. Currently, the UK, despite its attempts be diverse and inclusive, remains predominantly white. SEM works with environmental organisations to ensure proper environmental governance and justice. 

The charity upholds the view that environmental protection should be a universal civic responsibility – it helps raise awareness and education on the conservation of natural resources and the importance of the natural environment.”

 

On his experience of studying and working in the environmental sector, Maxwell said: 

“My love for nature was something I was brought up with, unfortunately this love for nature was disconnected when I received a scholarship to study in the UK. I found that Black and minoritised people such as myself were urbanised and thus disconnected from nature and the wider outdoors. With this realisation, I set about to build a more diverse and inclusive environmental sector.”

 

Reflecting on success in leadership, Maxwell highlighted some crucial qualities:

“The advice I can give to any prospective leader is that they need to possess the following qualities: charisma, drive, ambition, loyalty, trust, empathy, commitment, dedication, honesty, transparency, respect and love for the work they are doing. Leadership is not about power, narcissism, egotism or being prejudicial but rather it is about understanding and accepting your calling to serve humankind irrespective of race, age or gender and, to act appropriately as a champion, role model, mentor and an ambassador to others. Good leaders tend to understand that we may all be equal as human beings but the socio-economic circumstances, educational barriers and challenges that others have to overcome are inherently unequal, and that is what makes a for a good leader.”

 

Finally, looking ahead, Maxwell highlighted some crucial learning points for the environmental sector:

“The environmental sector should take a look at the health sector – it is quite diverse and people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds work tirelessly to save lives. The natural environment is our Natural Health Service. Those in deprived and marginalised communities who suffer the brunt of environmental harm such as air pollution always end up as victims of environmental harm or disasters. If the environmental sector were to change its organisational culture and become more inclusive and diverse, we would be using our Natural Health Service in addition to the NHS to save lives through preventive care instead of curative care where people are medicated.

We are witnessing the onset of the Anthropocene, leading to eco-anxiety and the outbreak of diseases. Covid-19 was a tip of the iceberg, as the future of our planet is in hands, once we destroy it, then we are indirectly destroying our own very existence, we can’t continue with business as usual.”   

 

Connect with Maxwell and keep up to date with the work of the Sheffield Environmental Movement on Twitter at @SheffieldEnvir1.