A BIG step out of my comfort zone!

One of the core themes of our Love Local Jobs Foundation #DaretoDream programme is encouraging young people to step out of their comfort zone.

The opportunity to be authentic to these messages is always a great feeling and on Wednesday when our enigmatic speaker Jack ( the lad ) Hayes was taken poorly I was given the opportunity to step into the stretch/panic zone and deliver the Skills Event for Year 9 at Ormiston Six Villages Academy

Thanks so much to everyone at Ormiston Six Villages Academy for giving me such a supportive reception - particularly the students who contrary to my fears didn't eat me alive! Also a big thank you to 劳斯莱斯汽车 and their wonderful team of mentors for being so kind to the "B-Team" :-)

So after a fair bit of anxiety between getting "that" call at 6.40am and stepping on stage at 9.45am I came out the other side feeling about 20 feet tall and more informed and connected to the work we deliver than ever before. Not a bad outcome right?

So why is stepping out of the comfort zone so valuable for our next generation?

1. Personal growth: Venturing into new and unfamiliar situations challenges young people to grow and develop new skills. It can help them to expand their perspectives and improve their problem-solving abilities.
2. Building confidence: When young people successfully navigate new situations, they build self-esteem and confidence in their abilities. This can help them to tackle new challenges more easily in the future.
3. Developing resilience: Life is full of obstacles and setbacks, and facing new challenges can help build resilience, making it easier to recover from setbacks and continue pursuing goals.
4. Making connections: Stepping outside of your comfort zone often involves meeting new people and building new relationships. These connections can provide valuable support and opportunities in the future.
5. Broadening horizons: Trying new things exposes us to different perspectives and experiences, which can broaden horizons and deepen our understanding of the world.

Throughout our programmes we aim not only to raise awareness of the qualities that will help young people to fulfil their personal and professional potential, but also via workshops, one to one mentoring and workplace visits we strive to create opportunities for them to experience these principles first hand.

Whether standing in for Jack or observing from behind the scenes, being involved in the Love Local Jobs Foundation and the #DaretoDream programme is an absolute privilege. We simply wouldn't be able to do it without the phenomenal support we receive from employers, local authorities and schools. Most importantly many of the young people we set out to inspire simply wouldn't get access to these experiences without programmes like #DaretoDream.

Thanks so much to everyone who makes it possible for us continuing creating these opportunities for local young people. Too many to mention but I sincerely hope you all know who you are and the invaluable part you play.

If any other Sussex based employers, schools or local authorities would like to find out more about getting involved in the programme we'd love to hear from you. You can contact us by email via [email protected]

Have a great weekend and do something that scares you!