As 2018 begins, it’s vital we keep the spotlight on care leavers. These are tumultuous times, where big political and economic issues like Brexit draw attention away from some of our most pressing social issues. Here in the third sector we cannot let this happen. We must shout even louder – and campaign even harder – to bring the stories of our clients to the fore. Continue reading “Keep care leavers in the spotlight” »
When Sephora, aged 22, first stepped through the Drive Forward doors in the summer of 2017, her first thoughts were “will they really be able to help me with what I am looking for?” Young people leaving the care system are referred from one service to the next and not all are able to help them or deliver on promises. Continue reading “Sephora’s story” »
Having attracted over 300 visitors in just one week in September, our unique photo-exhibition is going to 55East, South London’s newest Community Hub! Continue reading “THIS IS ME pop-up in 55East” »
by Roopa Mehta
We often hear statistics of young people particularly those in care or those from deprived areas being associated with gang warfare, sex work, prison life, drug trafficking and homelessness. In fact these groups are associated with nearly all “antisocial” acts. I was on BBC Radio London with another young person and Ruby Lawrence from Drive Forward Foundation (check out Drivetime from 14 September!). Continue reading “The Seedy Underbelly – care leavers & “antisocial” behaviour” »
UPDATE: You can now find all the portraits and accompanying soundtracks on Flickr and Soundcloud. Enjoy!
The exhibition opens at the Waterloo Action Arts Centre on Monday 11th September, running for one week only.
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. Continue reading “THIS IS ME – exhibition at the Waterloo Action Centre” »
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” »
“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” »
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 Hill+Knowlton Strategies” »
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.” »
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” »
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