Introducing the Showing Up Foundation

It's been more than a minute since I posted. I appreciate that everyone is still here - thank you! There's been a lot happening on the family front and, as a result, the work front (and by grace, everything is well).

In the UK, over 3 million working-age individuals are economically inactive due to long-term sickness, which has been increasing since 2019.

Many of these individuals aspire to work but face barriers such as a lack of confidence, skills, or guidance on where to begin.

This challenge is particularly evident in areas like my hometown of Clacton-on-Sea and the neighbouring town of Jaywick.

Having lived in Clacton-on-Sea for over a decade, I’ve come to cherish this town, especially for its wonderful people. Jaywick shares this same spirit. However, both areas face significant employment challenges.

In 2022, Clacton recorded an economic inactivity rate of 46.8%, meaning nearly half the working-age population was neither employed nor seeking employment.

Jaywick, identified as one of England’s most deprived areas, has an unemployment rate estimated at almost 50%.

I’ve become close to many good people who have been on benefits long-term. They don’t lack the will to work; they lack the support to take that first step. And Jaywick and Clacton are, of course, not alone. Long-term unemployment is a growing concern in every corner of the UK.

The benefits system is complex, and it’s all too easy to judge those who rely on it. We believe it’s more productive to support those eager to work but need a starting point.

The Showing Up Foundation offers free training for individuals who want to enter or re-enter the workplace but feel stuck.

We help people gain the confidence and skills to move forward because everyone deserves the chance to work, contribute, and build a better future for themselves.

If you, someone you know, or your non-profit organisation wants to take that first step, please visit our website. Our free courses will launch online in May 2025.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for being here.

Benjamin

I'd like to welcome the 32 people who joined our newsletter last week. At Showing Up, we create learning & development programmes for early career management consultants. Our promise is to support your business in developing consultants who deliver the most outstanding programmes and results for your clients.

For every member of your team that we train, we train at least one person through the Showing Up Foundation. We provide free training to help people enter or re-enter the workplace with confidence. We support those who want to work but need guidance, skills, and a starting step. Our ambition is to support 1 million people to enter or re-enter the workplace by 2035.