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We’re thrilled to reveal that we and our partners Verizon Business have been shortlisted for not just one, but two awards at The Better Society Awards 2024! The first category is for the National Commitment to Skills & Training Award, something we’re hugely proud of as we roll out our skills focused programmes, workshops and bootcamps across the UK.
The second is for the Philanthropy Award category, given to celebrate individuals and organisations who advance innovation, new solutions, and demonstrate meaningful progress in a community, association, or other nonprofit organisation.
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Unloc’s Managing Director Haydon Taylor is thrilled about the announcement, saying:
“What an incredible honour to be shortlisted for such impressive awards and gaining recognition for the extensive work we do with young people around the country. We’ve worked with the amazing team at Verizon Business for five years now to provide collaborative training and skills opportunities to more than 100,000 young people from across the country, many from disadvantaged communities.”
“Our partnership allows us to provide them with access to free skills and opportunities they’d otherwise miss out on. Working throughout the education sector we’ve been able to expand our reach and help develop the potential of young people from all different backgrounds. Building their confidence, their skills, and their ability to become young changemakers in their communities. I hope everyone will wish us, and Verizon the best of luck on awards night!”
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Talent and opportunity in the UK is often mis-aligned, with young people growing up in the most challenging socio-economic communities facing life expectancies up-to 6 years below the national average and lifetime income earning potential up-to 40% below the national benchmark (such as Portsmouth). Our joint skills and training programmes are helping to redress this imbalance.
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This uniquely collaborative approach between a global corporate, and our own non-for-profit skills & training organisation has:
The outcomes described above are the combined results of the six bespoke and innovative programmes in entrepreneurship, leadership, career pathways and amplifying student voices, which are curated and delivered by Unloc’s expert youth-focused facilitation team, working in close collaboration with Verizon employee mentors, guest speakers and industry experts.
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“We’re so proud of the programs that we’ve developed with Unloc and the impact that they’ve had. I’m delighted that our partnership has been award-nominated as it shows that our approach to levelling the playing field for young people and helping them to develop entrepreneurial skills is making a marked impact and achieving our ambitions in line with our responsible business plan, Citizen Verizon.”
Sanjiv Gossain, Head of EMEA, Verizon Business
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Changemaker Challenge Enterprise Days
These day-long events take place in schools across the country with a particular focus on the most deprived communities, reaching more than 10,000 young people every year. They inspire young people to explore what it means to be a changemaker, including widening their career horizons and putting their entrepreneurial skills to the test through a series of social business challenges.
Each event brings together between 30 and 100 primary or secondary school students to learn about the life and career journeys of local entrepreneurs, Verizon employees and participate in entrepreneurial skill building workshops. Each day culminates in a ‘changemaker challenge’, whereby a team of young people work together to identify and develop an entrepreneurial solution to a real-life social, environmental or economic issue.
Saiqua Zaneb, Deputy Head Teacher at Central Foundation Girls School in Tower Hamlets said
“These experiences have been transformative for our students, giving them the skills and training experiences they need to thrive in the real world.”
Unloc Academies
Our 3-month long Leadership and Enterprise academies develop the skills of more than 1000 passionate young people annually, supporting them to successfully tackle a solution to an issue they or their peers have faced in their schools, colleges or communities. For those participating in the Leadership Academy, Unloc provides practical instruction in project planning, facilitation and effective communication, as well as building personal confidence and leadership. Enterprise Academy students gain skills in business planning, market testing, setting up a business, financial management and more from entrepreneurs and Verizon employees and volunteers.
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I AM:
I AM is a new kind of social change incubator putting 100 young people annually at the heart of tackling issues around equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), whilst developing their life-long employability. For 6 months, young people from across Portsmouth and London come together over 4 immersive weekends of training and collaboration to learn about EDI and apply what they have learn to create and implement social change projects, with the support of community leaders, local professionals, specialist consultants, and democratically-elected representatives Following participation, 100% of young people say they feel more inspired to do something different or take action in the future, and 92% say they want to take part in similar programmes.
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EDI Changemaker Days
Running alongside I AM, EDI Changemaker Days take place in 5 schools in disadvantaged communities and deliver an immersive day-long experience on EDI and racial justice for 1000 young people each year. With the help of the Unloc team and Verizon mentors, students build their own in-school campaigns to tackle a problem or address a challenge that impacts their lives.
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The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge
The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge is an annual event that identifies and encourages young entrepreneurial talent. Now in its 5th year, the challenge provides the opportunity for any young person aged 16-25 with an innovative technology-led, business idea to apply for a grant of £10,000, plus mentorship, training and specialist pro-bono expertise, to help them translate their idea into a successful social enterprise or business. To date, 35 young people have been supported, with their ventures in turn employing more than 250 people.
We’re thrilled to launch our exciting new programme for young people: ‘I AM: a dynamic new experience in partnership with Verizon and utilising our network of Changemaker Studios spaces to build a powerful platform that supports and incubates young changemakers in the UK.
Through the I AM: programme young people from all walks of life, cultures and communities will have the experience to express who they are without judgement, with confidence, and with pride.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT & WHO’S IT FOR?
As human beings we focus so much on what separates us or makes us different to everyone else, losing sight that we should be celebrating those differences. We are all unique.
The programme is aimed at 14-17 year olds. No matter your background, skin colour, sexuality, religion, gender or identity, I AM: seeks to help young people express their true selves, be proud of their culture and who they are, and stand up and say ‘This is who I AM’.
This dynamic free initiative is in partnership with Verizon and will see young people take the lead in tackling equality, diversity and inclusion in their local communities; learning how to leverage and drive positive change.
Throughout the programme they’ll be discovering their own abilities, then using those skills to campaign on issues that are important and personal to them. Whether that’s bigotry, racism, stereotypes, homophobia, transphobia, religious or cultural hate, they’ll understand the principles of democracy, and stand for fairness, equality and racial justice.
THE PROGRAMME
The programme will be delivered from July-December 2022 and will consist of 4 exciting and immersive weekends across Portsmouth and London, including a 1 night residential. Dates will be published shortly.
There will also be equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and racial justice workshops; campaigning masterclasses, and fun, interactive sessions, enabling young people to better understand power and influence in their communities and make lasting change!
It’s time to break down barriers, crush stereotypes and be who we really are.
LONDON DATES
Weekend 1: 10th July
Weekend 2: 17th/18th September
Weekend 3: 29th/30th October
Weekend 4: 3rd/4th December
PORTSMOUTH DATES
Weekend 1: 9th July
Weekend 2: 1st/2nd October
Weekend 3: 5th/6th November
Weekend 4: 26th/27th November
Senior Programme Facilitator, Stacey Bawden said:
‘’I am really looking forward to bringing this project to life for young people and providing them with an opportunity to explore how they can elicit change. It’s so important we recognise and learn about the injustices within our communities and how we can support social change. I am constantly inspired by the young people we work with and look forward to taking this journey with them.‘’
The I AM: programme is part of a wider project in collaboration with our partners Verizon, consisting of leadership development; exploring social action within local communities, and equipping young people with entrepreneurial skills to take forward into their futures.
Verizon’s CSR, DE&I, & Innovation (EMEA Marketing Manager) Xavier White said:
“I’m delighted that Verizon is able to support this program as part of our ongoing work with Unloc. Diversity and human prosperity are part of our core values and society is one of our four core stakeholders. It’s wonderful that we are able to run programs like this for young people and I look forward to seeing them come to fruition.”
Apply now! The deadline for applications for the I Am programme is the 1st July 2022, spaces are limited so if you or someone you know is interested in signing up then be sure to do so quickly!
For more information or to apply, please click here!
We’d like to give special thanks to Verizon for their support and funding for this exciting new project.
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