In the heart of Manchester, at the enchanting Rekindle School in St Mary Courtyard, a young change-makers reunion unfolded—an intimate gathering for the passionate individuals reconnecting after six months, sharing the milestones of their changemaking journey and collectively envisioning the promising horizons awaiting them. This wasn’t just a reunion; it was a celebration of resilience, growth, and the boundless potential of the Young Changemakers Alumni cohort 2. Launched in 2021, as a Northern Soul partnership with Virgin Money Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund, the Young Change Makers Fellowship Programme supports young people who are passionate about changing society for the better.
A Story of Growth and Resilience
“What has the past 6 months held for you?” A lot if you ask our changemakers. This simple question became a portal to a diverse and inspiring journey. Personal and professional growth became intertwined with resilience, determination, and newfound strength. From securing fulfilling jobs, and becoming parents to gracing billboards and exploring uncharted territories, each individual had a unique tale to tell. The transformation witnessed wasn’t just a metamorphosis of changemakers; it was a living testament to the programme’s prowess, nurturing not only changemakers but resilient individuals primed for the challenges that lay ahead.
An engaging highlight of the event was a candid conversation with Eddie Baines, Funding Officer at The National Lottery Community Fund. Eddie, having walked the path of a changemaker himself by founding Kirkton Community Larder in 2019, shared his journey of addressing food waste and insecurity using surplus food from supermarkets to provide affordable and dignified access to food for people in the local area. His invaluable advice resonated through the room: “Do the work, prioritize quality over quantity, and be as concise as possible when applying for a grant”.
Voices from the Cohort
Fatima, one of the changemakers, shared, “The past months have been a journey of self-discovery, identifying my purpose and seeing how I will make the impact I have always aspired to make. This opportunity helped me connect with like-minded people and expand my knowledge of the immigration system in different countries”.
For Ryan, “This has literally been life changing and allowed me to tap into the potential to change my community and even make the world a better place which I never knew I could do. The humanity, fostering ambition and dreams is something the Northern Soul team has given in such an authentic and nurturing way”.
Emma, “Building my leadership skills, starting my own project and I’m so proud of taking the leap to helping other young creative people like me”.
Penning Hopes, Dreams & Aspirations
Beyond the reflections and acknowledgments of personal growth, the cohort also cast their gaze forward, engaging in a poignant exercise —scribing letters of hope, dreams, and aspiration. From aspiring to run for president in Sierra Leone to supporting young creatives, acquiring homes, and completing law school, the hopes and dreams penned down were both audacious and profoundly inspiring. The Hopes & Dreams session wasn’t just a forward-looking exercise; it was a collective manifestation of a brighter and more impactful future.
“Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” —Stephen King
The Young Change Makers Fellowship Programme is not just a programme; it’s an incubator of impact, and boundless changemaking. As this cohort and cohort 1 continue to navigate their transformative journey, they are not merely shaping their own destinies, but also creating a ripple effect of positive change and influencing the course of a better, more hopeful transformation for others.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories as these young changemakers continue to carve ripples of change across the North of the UK.
