Do you remember that feeling?
That feeling when you thought anything was possible? Or really if not quite completely possible, you were excited about what could happen, what was around the corner. You felt excited about the endless possibilities and choices in front of you, and wondered where life might take you? I wish I could bottle that feeling when it happens.
I realised three things last year.
One, I was stuck. I felt like I had run out of possibilities in my working world. That my working life was set on a course I had chosen and for some reason, I had started to feel panicked by this.
Two, not everyone has endless choices to make their lives what they want or need them to be. Sometimes the support is just not there, the opportunities are non-existent, the system is set up in a way that those options are just not there for folk.
Three, I could in fact change point one for me, and also try and change point two for others.
When I spoke to Ruth and Anne Marie last August about Northern Soul, I felt those feelings of possibilities again. As they explained who they were and what they wanted Northern Soul to be, I started to feel excited. I felt giddy about what could be around that corner, what could be achieved and I wanted to be part of that. I felt the good vibes. I knew this was my moment to change my path and seek new opportunities.
Fast forward to today, and I am now working alongside Ruth, Anne Marie, Indie, T and Savannah – the small but mighty team of Northern Soul. We, as a team, are laying the foundations and shaping our organisation. I am currently helping to create our vision, mission, values and what we want to achieve. It’s a journey we are taking together and one I am very proud to be part of.
What you need to know for now is that at our heart, Northern Soul is a simple concept: support and celebrate the people driving positive social change across the North. Our vision is for a confident and connected North that shapes its own story.
We have come together as a group of individuals with shared values who want to help the good folk already doing or about to start the good work. We are here as the supporting cast, as the engine and fuel, to upwardly support and enable people to flourish so that they can continue to do the powerful, important work for positive social change in the North.
I now look forward to the new possibilities on offer to me and also of the ones we can look to create and offer to others. I look forward to discovering what is round that corner, and what we can do to amplify and champion people who are passionate about social change.
I am excited again and I am trying my hardest to bottle this feeling.
We will be doing consultation and engagement work over the next few weeks and months, so please keep an eye out on our twitter account to see how you can be involved in helping us shape what Northern Soul is and how we will work.
Sal, Strategic Development Lead at Northern Soul
