Today, I want to tell you a story about someone Made in Stoke, Nick Faunus and shine a light on how Nick has used his experience, skills and, in this case, ranch in Canada to give back to young people in Stoke-on-Trent.Read on for the full story, or watch Nick's video here.
In partnership with YMCA North Staffordshire, Nick opens up his ranch in Canada to provide young people from the YMCA with a life-changing experience. Many of the young people who go on an all-expenses paid trip to the ranch have not left the UK before, not travelled on a plane and not left Stoke.
Using his ranch from his Herb business, Nick is able to provide work experience for these young people to expand their horizons, learn something new and simply be in a completely new environment. Nick himself is an example of how interactions like this can change the course of someone's life as he once found himself without a stable family home at young age.
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Believing in someone, giving someone an opportunity, a pat on the back, someone saying "I believe in you" can all change a person's life path forever. For many people living in the deprived areas of Stoke, their world and the people in their world can seem small. Creating opportunities to see more of the world, or meet more people of the world massively improves someone's options in their life.
You can't be what you can't see.
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What could you do?
We share this today as food for thought. Is there an experience you could provide people in Stoke-on-Trent? Through your work, or your life situation? Or could you help fund more young people to experience what Nick is so kindly offering? Our Mission is to support your contribution to Stoke. We won't pass the collection jar around very often, more so, we want you to create your contributions.
Come to us with your ideas, come to us with your money and we'll help you have the impact in this City that you want to have.
Dear fellow Stokies,
There are only 20 days to go before Santa arrives with all those goodies—the ones we don't need. Why not gift something extraordinary like a Made in Stoke T-shirt? What a fantastic stocking filler for all those loved ones near and far. My son told me they are quite the designer T.
It seemed like we had blinked, and a month had passed since the last update.
We had a fantastic evening in London where many of the Made in Stoke alumni gathered at the flagship store of Belstaff to celebrate our new World Craft City status.Many joined us at the event, and it was great to hear from Jane Ashworth and many others talk so passionately about our great city.
We are only months away from our centenary year, and we would welcome people coming forward who want to help and volunteer with the many events the city has planned.
I was so pleased to be asked to represent Made in Stoke at a talk to the Business and MBA students at Keele University. Seeing so many young people embarking on a business life was great. Let's hope we retain all that top talent, and they go on to create many new jobs in Stoke and the wider area.
Last week we were delighted to host the Civil Society Minister Stephanie Peacock at YMCA North Staffordshire to hear all about Made in Stoke and how we are creating unique connections to improve the lives of people in our city.
We are finalising the speaking in Schools and will be ready to share these lifetime experiences with students across our area starting in January so that further updates will come.We are still looking for people who want to join our team as ambassadors who will help us carry the message and if you are keen to join and can spare a few hours each week, send me an email at dwain@madeinstoke.com
All the best and big love to all the Stokies around the world.
