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THIS IS ME – exhibition at the Waterloo Action Centre

This Is Me – Care Leavers, Identity & Sense of Place

We all have a place that’s close to our hearts. Let us show you ours.

The exhibition opens at the Waterloo Action Arts Centre on Monday 11th September, running for one week only.

Audio: Listen to Travon’s story about the relative freedom of street homelessness, after leaving a domestic setting he describes as a ‘prison’.

A group of young care leavers from London have directed their own self-portraits, which will be displayed with accompanying monologues. In a startling and humbling celebration of diverse voices, each individual explores why their chosen place is meaningful to them and how it relates to or shapes their sense of identity.

‘I think of society as a library, and people are all books. What happens if nobody reads the books?’ – This is Me participant

Care leavers face a number of hurdles when transitioning into adulthood and independence. A third of people sleeping on the streets come from a care background. About 40% of young care leavers are NEET and half of them are dealing with mental health issues. This unique project invites you to discover the people behind the statistics, their stories and take on reality.

A member of staff from Drive Forward Foundation will be on hand every day to welcome visitors and answer any questions you may have.

When: 11-17 September, 11-7pm daily, Monday-Saturday

Where: Waterloo Action Arts Centre, 14 Baylis Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7AA

Help us spread the word on social media and put up our This Is Me poster in your office and local cafe!

Audio: Shaun reminds us that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, but of personal strength.

Continue reading “THIS IS ME – exhibition at the Waterloo Action Centre” »
J. Walter Thompson Young Tribes Day

Walter Thompson, a global advertising and marketing company, invited young women from the Drive Forward Foundation, along with women from the Paiwand and the Young Women’s Trust, to take part in their Young Tribes day aimed at explaining the role of advertising in society whilst also promoting the importance of gender equality, diversity and inclusion. Continue reading “J. Walter Thompson Young Tribes Day” »
Drive Ambassadors meet with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg

“Don’t let the past stop you from succeeding in life. Even if it is a long and bumpy journey, you will get there eventually and trust me: it is worth it!”

These are the words of Fatima, who fled violence and political unrest in Guinea to seek an uncertain future in an unknown country. Five years later, at 20 years old she has left waitressing behind her and achieved a prestigious apprenticeship with Accenture. Continue reading “Drive Ambassadors meet with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg” »
A day at Kill+Knowlton Strategies

In our third year of partnership with Hill+Knowlton Strategies, we are reaping the rewards of an established relationship with the “UK Consultancy of the Year” (as recognised by the Holmes Report 2016) and are confident that we can provide an environment in which young people from Drive Forward can thrive on H+K’s work placement programme. Continue reading “A day at Kill+Knowlton Strategies” »
Drive Talks with Hashi Mohamed: You have to deal with the world as it is, rather than as you would like it to be.

On 24th May we were delighted to host Hashi Mohamed, who delivered a truly inspirational Drive Talk to an audience of care leavers, corporate partners and reps from referral agencies.

“You have to deal with the world as it is, rather than as you would like it to be.”

Now a successful barrister in London, Hashi Mohamed has come a long way since fleeing his home in Somalia and arriving in the UK at the age of nine. In his BBC Radio 4 documentary Adventures in Social Mobility, Hashi reflects upon his own journey, transitioning from life at underperforming schools and being raised exclusively on benefits, to attending Oxford and becoming a successful and respected member of the bar. Continue reading “Drive Talks with Hashi Mohamed: You have to deal with the world as it is, rather than as you would like it to be.” »
The “tailwind” that raises everyone’s game

Nowadays, whatever your background, getting your foot into the world of business is a challenge. You may have spent years crafting the most dazzling CV with a glittering array of extracurricular activities, emerged with a first class degree from a highly regarded university, and have thought deeply about your Personal Purpose – the world you’d like to see, your contribution to it, your short and long-term ambitions, your values – but there is no guarantee that you will land your dream job, let alone one that pays the bills. Competition is venal, securing a salary in line with your talent, even tougher. Right from the start – in order to build a successful career – you need to be inexorably focused and resilient. Continue reading “The “tailwind” that raises everyone’s game” »
Filmmaking course with Lesley Pinder

Tom Tokeley talks about his filmmaking experience with Lesley Pinder and Drive Forward.

What’s your favourite movie? Do you even have a favourite movie or at least a preferred genre of movies? Action, romantic comedy, drama… Would you rather watch Russell Crow fight the Roman Empire, have a laugh with Hugh Gant and Julia Roberts, or follow Leonardo DiCaprio as he dives into the world of dreams? Or, are you the kind of person who enjoys watching wild animals on Discovery Channel and the stories of Making a Murderer on Netflix? Continue reading “Filmmaking course with Lesley Pinder” »
Your Voice, Your Music

“Hey, this is Lynn Destiny on your mics from East London radio about to play Salt and Pepper Push Iiiit”, Lynn would speak into the microphone in front of her before playing the artist’s Hip Hop track. During the final two weeks of January, Drive Forward’s training room was transformed into a recording studio where our young people explored Hip Hop music in depth. Continue reading “Your Voice, Your Music” »
Drive Forward at the World Economic Forum in Davos

“Davos has provided Drive Forward with access to a variety of companies, which then lead to fruitful relationships.” (Martha Wansbrough, CEO of Drive Forward Foundation)

For more than 30 years, the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, has been a significant networking opportunity for leaders around the globe. With a vision of improving the state of the world, the unique ‘Spirit of Davos’ refers to mutual collaboration and collegiality amongst all participants. As an international organisation, the World Economic Forum in Davos brings together figures from government and politics, business and civil society, to shape global agendas and influence change. Continue reading “Drive Forward at the World Economic Forum in Davos” »

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