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4509 Educators providing Family courses delivered Online

The City Seamstress

the city seamstress

If you’re interested in sewing with us, read on for some class info! Guaranteed small class size of no more than six students so you get all the help you need. Classes are in person and take place in our Dublin 8 studio. All of our courses are suited to both beginners and intermediates as these classes are taught by individual attention, working on your own project in your own time and pace. We provide the sewing machines and supply everything you need to get you started with your first beginner’s project. If there is a project you want to work on you will need to bring all materials, patternwork and requirements of your pattern eg thread, notions, zips etc. If you’re attending as a beginner, you will learn basic machine functions, practice threading the machine and make a small stitch sampler. You will be shown how to insert a zip and make a small bag. Improvers, we can work with you on any project you may need guidance with. From alterations, cushion covers, upcycling vintage clothing, cosplay, cloning your favourite garment or learning how to make your own clothes, we can cover it all. We have a beautiful, bright, studio for you to learn in. There is a lovely sense of community in class, because the group size is small, you get lots of attention in a friendly, relaxed environment. All of our machines are new and easy to learn on. There is also an overlocker for student use and we provide basic sewing kit for you to use. This is a two hour class, from 6pm-8pm, once a week on the same evening each week, for three weeks consecutively. Course fee; €95 When booking a course, please check your dates carefully you must be able to attend all three dates, no refunds once booked. Missed sessions, for ANY reason, cannot be made up, transferred, carried over, refunded or credited. Class availability is extremely limited due to a backlog from the prolonged studio closure and and unfortunately we can only accept a small amount of students per session. Click on the Book Classes page to check out our current availability. SOME FAQ’S… Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the classes? This course is for people aged 13 and above. Where can I contact you with any questions? You can email us at hello@thecityseamstress.com Is the studio open to the public, can I call by? Unfortunately, no. Please note the studio is housed in a private artists studio, not a commercial unit. Access is granted to our class attendees and clients only. However if you would like to drop by to see one of our classes in action you can do so by booking in for an appointment where we will show you around and answer any questions. However we are not offering such appointments during Covid-19 restrictions. Is my booking transferrable? Your course enrollment can only be used for the dates booked, but you can transfer it into someone else’s name if you can’t make it – just let us know before they attend. What is the cancellation policy? Unfortunately, if for any reason you cannot attend the classes on the date you are booked for, we cannot reschedule it to a new date and there is no refund on classes and workshops. Please make sure that you, or the person you are booking for, can attend before booking a class with us. If you are unable to attend the classes you can give your place to your friend or family member. Please email us at least 24 hours before the course with the name of the person attending in your place. If unforeseen circumstances cause us to cancel the class you will be informed as soon as possible and a full refund will be made. We accept no responsibility for covering travel, hotel or other costs incurred by you. In the case of any further lockdowns your class will be rescheduled. Hope to get stitching with you soon!

Islam Foundation

islam foundation

London

The Islamic Foundation (IF) is located in Villa Park, Illinois. Islamic Foundation was formed in 1974, as a non-profit organization under the laws of the State of Illinois, to serve the Muslim communities in the western suburbs of Chicago. We started our mission in 1975 with a weekend Islamic school in a rented facility with an initial enrollment of 36 students. In 1981, Islamic Foundation got the permit to establish a permanent building facility in Villa Park, Illinois and two years later, Islamic Foundation purchased a former public school building and an adjacent house to setup the facility that is now our Islamic Foundation campus. Our goal at IF is to fulfill the spiritual, educational, and social needs of the entire family for the Muslim community in the greater Chicagoland area. The management of the Islamic Foundation is vested in a Board of Trustees. The Islamic Foundation operates multiple institutions and programs on the premises including a Mosque, Islamic Foundation School (full-time school from preschool to grade 12), and Weekend Schools (Saturday and Sunday). The Islamic Foundation Masjid, arguably the largest mosque in North America, was completed in 1998 after a 3-year construction period. The masjid area now also includes a book store, library / reading room, community center, banquet / lecture hall, state-of-the-art kitchen, conference rooms, and IF staff offices. The Islamic Foundation School (IFS), is a full-time school (preschool to grade 12) accredited by North Central Association (NCA) and recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). IFS has a current enrollment of around 650 full-time students from 400+ families across the greater Chicagoland area, making its one of the largest Islamic schools in North America. Since its inception in 1986, IFS has embarked on a mission to provide excellent education in an atmosphere of faith, and to prepare students to be life-long learners and contributing members of society. Islamic Foundation is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) organization. Our Tax ID is 23-7445241. BRIEF HISTORY OF ISLAMIC FOUNDATION 1974: Founded and registered Foundation with the State of Illinois as a not-for-profit organization 1975: Recognized by the United States as a tax-exempt organization. 1975: Established weekend Islamic school for children in a rented classroom with enrollment of 36 students. 1983: Purchased a former public school building (24,000 square feet) on a 7.1-acre lot and simultaneously purchased a house adjacent to this land for use as the Imam’s residence. 1984: Established a Muslim cemetery with a space for 1,125 grave-sites, as part of Arlington Cemetery, at 401 E Lake Street, Elmhurst, Illinois. 1988: Established a full-time school for kindergarten to grade 8, and later added a preschool for children, ages 3-5. 1993: Expanded parking facilities with installation of floodlights. 1995: Began construction of a new mosque to accommodate the growing community. 1997: Established a high school with grade 9 and gradually expanded to grade 12 by 2000. Also added a playground and completed an upgrade of all heating units in the school building. 1998: Completed construction of the Masjid along with the additional space that today includes a book store, library and reading room, banquet/lecture hall, kitchen, and offices for the Foundation staff. 1999: Further extended the existing parking facility. 2003: Added the parking lot on the west side of the Masjid. 2007: Established a second cemetery, Al-Fatiha Gardens, for 336 grave sites in Chapel Hill Gardens at 17 West 201 Roosevelt Road, Oak Brook Terrace, Illinois. 2007: Started construction of a new three-story building including a state-of-the-art regulation-size gymnasium (paused in 2009 after completing all exterior work due to financial considerations). 2012: Completed and furnished first floor of the new school building – moved high school classes from trailers to the new building. 2014: Completed and furnished second floor of the new school building – moved all the middle school classes from trailers to the new building. 2016: Completed the lower level of the new school building – moved rest of the middle school classes, and labs. 2017: Completed the construction of community center, administration offices, and conference rooms. 2018: Renovated the Old School Building by replacing the entire roof and ceiling.

Romain Designs

romain designs

London

Romain Designs provides education to enrich lives and expand our learners’ possibilities. “Learning does not stop after finishing school, college or university, it is a lifelong opportunity that can sharpen the skills, increase self-confidence and improve career prospects”. Our team of staff is by far our most valuable asset. Our expectations of delivering a high standard of service can only be met by carefully selected, motivated, and able individuals. To reflect and support this we have developed a number of initiatives to ensure that our team is given the opportunity to settle in as soon as possible, and gain an understanding of our business and the way we work. All of our staff, administrators, assessors, and internal verifiers are rigorously selected against carefully defined selection criteria. We use face-to-face interviews to determine their suitability and training requirements. As part of ongoing professional development to ensure the continued improvement of our services, a training plan is put in place for each worker. Online/distance learning offers high-quality training and the opportunity to obtain a nationally recognized qualification. They offer technical knowledge whilst practical experience, along with functional and personal skills are obtained in the work environment. These are acquired through a mix of learning online and in the workplace, providing real training and the opportunity to practice and embed new skills in their everyday job role. Romain Designs offer courses that are completely online. Whether your training need is large or small, we can provide the resources and solutions you need to get the job done right. Our track record for consistency, timely service, and subject matter expertise make insurmountable tasks possible to overcome. We especially enjoy supporting our students, where english is a second language, new to the country wanting to rebuild their work history or those wanting to rejoin the workforce. Our multifaceted company is here to assist by providing a wide range of services at affordable prices. For more information, simply contact us at info@romandesigns.uk Romain Designs engages with learners from different backgrounds, cultures, and traditions. Supporting diversity and inclusion is very important to us, whether it is helping those expanding their skill set, or providing individuals with an access point to education for the first time. We have progressively developed our service is to ensure sustainability and high working relationships in order to provide a friendly and professional approach and training service. Our specialisms are currently in : Quality Assurance Consultancy Adult care Advisory and Employability Childcare Education and Training Basic, intermediate, and advanced ICT Courses Creative and Digital Media Family Learning Information Advice & Guidance Supporting teaching and learning Business Consultancy Website Development and Graphical Design We have experience in Employer Engagement, building, and maintaining strong relationships with both clients and candidates to achieve successful outcomes. We adhere to our employer’s needs. We work together to contribute to the success of the companies’ objectives as well as enhance and develop our own business achievements. Our goal is to provide a valuable service for Adults, Young People, Schools, businesses and employers. Our aim is to provide professional, engaged and successful outcomes. that is taught at a high level and quality. Our aim is to encourage self-esteem and enable opportunities in the community, partnering with others, to improve skills, knowledge, and experience. Romain Designs is constantly working for the community. . Take a look around the site and access the service most appropriate to you. We look forward to supporting you, with your next project or learning journey. Accessible and Affordable We work hard to keep course costs to an absolute minimum. In addition, we offer a range of flexible payment options for even greater affordability. All course materials are included as standard, with no hidden extras to pay at any time. Enrol today and spread your payments with a finance plan. We have multiple payment options available and will help you choose the best plan to suit you. We also accept international students on specific courses, so browse through our courses to get started. Complete our pre-enrolment form and we will contact you to discuss this further

Soul Food Sisters

soul food sisters

Glasgow,

We’re a group of migrant women based in East Glasgow and together we’re creating a vibrant, female-led collective based around our favourite thing: food! By swapping recipes, ideas and skills, we’re making women’s lives brighter. Our not-for-profit organisation brings together women from all over the world, ending social isolation and empowering them to develop their talents- in the kitchen and beyond. 1. WE ARE A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE When we say ‘not-for-profit’, we mean just that! We believe that making a difference to people’s lives is more important than making money. Soul Food Sisters’ role is to empower migrant women in the local community to start their own businesses, encourage their abilities and increase confidence. That’s much more valuable than a fistful of tenners. 2. IT’S A LEARNING CURVE Sharing skills is a big deal for us. We are paid a flat rate and we all work together, which can mean anything from peeling bags of spuds to attending high-flying business meetings. By learning from each other, we can become stronger and more powerful together. 3. WE ARE ALL WOMEN We are built on the idea of sisterhood, so Soul Food Sisters is a women-only workers co-op, open to females from diverse backgrounds who love to cook. (Sorry, guys!). But if you’re female and you’d like to join our collective, get in contact as we would love to hear from you. If you work with us for a while, you could be offered membership to the co-operative. 4. EVERYTHING WE GET, WE PUT BACK IN Soul Food Sisters have an appetite for making great food, but when it comes to business, we’re not greedy. Any surplus cash after paying wages goes straight back into the collective. Also our assets are locked, so in the unlikely event we go bankrupt, nobody will be allowed to go home with the soup urns or chopping boards! 5. WE ARE A DEMOCRACY All the women in the Soul Food Sisters collective get a fair share and a listening ear. We make all our decisions by consensus, which isn’t always the quickest way, or the easiest. But consensus means that everyone is treated with respect and that we genuinely make decisions as a unified group. Every single one of us has equal ownership. 6. WE ARE ETHICAL To us, having a clear conscience is just as important as having a clean kitchen. We source ethical ingredients wherever possible and support other co-ops, making sure to buy our food locally. Of course, sometimes there are ingredients - like rice paper, for example - that we have to go further afield to find! But ethically sourced food is our utmost priority. 7. WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF FOOD We believe that food has the power to bring people together. By harnessing the spirit of Glasgow and it’s culturally diverse and fascinating communities, we provide food that celebrates diversity and for people of all cultures to enjoy together. 8. WE ARE SMART LADIES FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE At the moment, Soul Food Sisters is made up of eight women from 5 different continents. From Malaysia and Cuba to Poland and Thailand, we are a culturally mixed group, with many skills to share. And our talents extend further than just the kitchen. Together our cooks can do anything, whether it’s teaching German, making wine, designing buildings or driving trains! 9.THE HIDDEN GARDENS HAVE HELPED US GROW We would not be here without the help of the Hidden Gardens, at Tramway. This is the place where we met and cooked together for the first time, and we are grateful for their continued support. 10. AND FINALLY…WE MAKE GREAT FOOD Our food is what makes us tick. It’s who we all are, what we grew up with, what brings us together. We believe that our food is a reflection of our individual personalities and family traditions. And we’d like to share it with everyone!

Brawd

brawd

At Brawd we live life to the full through the body, adventure and mind. Brawd was born on the South Coast of Wales in 2013 on Barry Island Beach in the Vale of Glamorgan. Brawd is Welsh for brother as we're one big happy fit & healthy family. Our expert team of coaches have a unique approach that centres around you getting stronger and fitter, but most importantly you MUST have FUN doing it! In fact we absolutely insist on camaraderie, laughter & leaving your ego at the door - this is what sets Brawd apart from the rest. It's health and fitness for real people with jobs, assignments, kids, and other responsibilities. ALL of our images are of our clients past or present. We refuse to use images of fitness models. We had a humble start running bootcamps on the beach of Barry Island in the depth of winter which we still run today and they've only gotten better and better! Training in the wild & running bootcamps on the beaches made up a pillar of what makes Brawd then and it still does now in our DNA but we've now expanded and began to offer so much more to our clients! Our HQ in the heart of Barry is a former Train Engine Repair Shed which we've transformed into an action packed facility with all the fitness toys you could ever want for our sprawling supportive community of adventurers & friends. The other part of what we do is Adventure, particularly using Stand Up Paddleboards! We've also been doing this since 2013 and have run adventure trips to the wilds of Scotland,  Cornwall and Europe! So if you want to experience something different and become part of a community that truly believes in using Fitness and Adventure to get the best out of you and your life, then just get in touch... we promise you won't look back. Lloydy - Brawd Founder

Balsall Heath Is Our Planet

balsall heath is our planet

London

Criminals have been breaking into Balsall Heath City Farm to steal the animals. This is upsetting for the staff and volunteers who look after them, at this much loved family learning facility (open daily). Donations are being collected through crowd funding to make the site secure, so together we can stop the abuse. MAKE A DONATION Vote for a Neighbourhood Council 05/12/2022 at 10:02 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment Tags: Balsall Heath Good news. Many residents of Balsall Heath have voted Yes to setting up our own Neighbourhood Council to improve the area. All the money raised will be spent here. But it will take every vote, to get over the threshold. Due to postal delays, residents are asked to send the green voting paper as soon as they can, to be sure your vote is counted before 15 December. Anyone who has lost the ballot paper can be sent another by emailing Name, Address Postcode, subject BH Neighbourhood Council Vote bids@cesvotes.com Energy saving grants for Balsall Heath 18/11/2022 at 11:49 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment Tags: Balsall Heath Homeowners and tenants living in Balsall Heath can apply to have work done on their homes that could significantly reduce their energy bills. Funding has been attracted by Retrofit Balsall Heath for up to 700 homes. Deadline for return of applications is Wednesday 23 November . Delays and even disappointments are possible with a free scheme, but “if you don’t ask, you dont get”. There’s no household income cap, or requirement to be on benefits, but the scheme is for older homes with poor energy rating (D,E,F,G EPCs). The scheme is completely free for eligible owner-occupiers. Private landlords need to pay a one-third contribution. A 3-page form needs to be filled in by the resident to apply and agree for a surveyor to visit. These can be got from BH Library, Baths, BH Children’s Centre, Jericho Foundation. Completed forms – please email form to RetrofitBalsallHeath[at]gmail.com or drop in at MECC, 93 Court Road, B12 9LQ MECC 0121 440 3500 9am-4pm Vote for a Neighbourhood Council 04/11/2022 at 9:51 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment Tags: Balsall Heath Voters in Balsall Heath are receiving postal ballot papers from the city Elections Office, this month, November. If enough people vote Yes, the new council will be set up and the councilors recruited. They will then draw up a plan and a budget and set the “precept” (a small charge) to pay running costs. There is a new webpage that tells people more about the case for setting up this new structure, separate from Birmingham City Council, (but working with it of course) to power up our ability to solve problems, find opportunities and get communication and coordination working in our complex and multicultural neighbourhood. Advance Website Our Garden of Balsall Heath 16/08/2022 at 2:34 pm | Posted in Gardens, Green Spaces, Trees | Leave a comment Tags: Balsall Heath With the 2022 Commonwealth Games came an arts project called Our Garden and this has produced some great videos about people appreciating green spaces and trees in our neighbourhood. With the heat wave people have really appropriated the shade of all the trees planted over the last 40 years in the greening of Balsall Heath. Watch the videos Action at the Pocket Park 20/06/2022 at 4:29 pm | Posted in Green Spaces, Streets | Leave a comment Tags: Balsall Heath A team assembled to replace planter at Balsall Heath Pocket Park. We learned that a vehicle had smashed into it and driven off, but we were able to put in a new and more robust one. Passers by said they really appreciate this space for walking, cycling and sitting down in the busy centre of our neighbourhood. Thanks go to Hywel and the Countrymen group from BH City Farm, as in the pictures. A Council of Balsall Heath – more time to have your say 27/04/2022 at 3:30 pm | Posted in uncategorised | Leave a comment Tags: Balsall Heath Sunday 15th May is the extended deadline, for people to say if they favour an elected body, with the powers of a parish council. The City Council’s survey is quite brief and is at BeHeard. If you can introduce this as a discussion for a group that you know, then, please contact me for help with that. John Newson bhiop[at]jericho.org.uk

Nina Cooke Business Growth Mentoring

nina cooke business growth mentoring

Hi, I am Nina Cooke. I’m a Mindset Coach for entrepreneurs. I help entrepreneurs breakthrough limiting beliefs to achieve their business goals, to create more impact & make more money. I’m a coach for business owners who have internal blocks around growing their business. My superpower is DIGGING DEEP to find the root cause of why they’re struggling. And then showing them how they can clear out their resistance. So they can charge their value, serve a wider and deeper audience, and have easier relationships. I get a huge kick out of seeing my clients have a 180 degree turnaround – from looking to the outside world for the solution to their business struggles to looking within themselves and finding the answer. And then they experience richer, freer, and easier lives which is a bigger result than they signed up for. (And they aren’t complaining 🙂 ). And I’d love for you to have that, too I know you’re a busy business owner and don’t have much time to work on yourself . Which is why my coaching doesn’t require you to carve out any prep or homework time. All changes happen within the sessions. And you make the changes deep within your subconscious, so you don’t have to use will power or effort to keep the changes in place – they’re permanent. Here’s what Linda has to say after working with me: “I loved working with you, Nina. The work that we did together was the most transformational of any work that I have done with anybody – ever. It went way beyond mere concepts, and answered the toughest question I have run across to date – how do I change my limiting beliefs? The change that you facilitated is at such a deep level, and affected the ‘me’ that I am, to such a degree that I quickly ‘became’ the change that we created. With that kind of freedom, I’m excited about how much fun and success I will be experiencing as I keep on stepping out to grow my business.” – Linda Flynt Why I started to coach people like you I’ve always been curious why some people are courageous and see a world of opportunities, while others are fearful and see a world of limitations. I trained in NLP and hypnotherapy to sort out my own fearful stuff and find my courage. But my life changed when I bumped into Morty Lefkoe because he showed me how to clear out my limiting beliefs that had kept me small and fearful. A couple of years after training with Morty, I worked with a successful business owner. I’d known her for quite a while and I’d always thought things were going really well for her. However, she was frustrated because her business wasn’t growing the way she wanted it to. She thought it was because she kept hiring the wrong team, when really it was something internal keeping her stuck. Since then, from the many conversations I’ve had with successful, but stuck, business owners, I’ve seen, time and time again, that one of the biggest reasons they’re struggling to grow is this: They believe it’s something practical, something that’s going on out there in the world (virtual or in-house teams, systems, etc), when actually it’s an inside job, something in their head they’re doing unconsciously. Working with business owners on a one-to-one basis allows me to go deep and help them breakthrough their hidden blocks so they can build a deeply satisfying and fulfilling business. My favourite things (in this order): My family – especially when we’re sitting round the table enjoying my husband’s delicious food (I bought him a cookery course for his birthday – best money I ever spent). My friends – I’m grateful to live in friendly Saffron Walden. Green tea (I carry my green tea bags in my handbag, just in case) – in my favourite giant-sized plain white mug. Yoga – it’s hard work but I know it’s doing some good 🙂 Knitting – I picked up my needles after 12 years, encouraged by Ann, my patient knitting mentor and friend. I’m excited to see my stripey jumper grow day by day! Meet Eddie. His favourite things (in this order): Long walks – particularly if squirrels and rabbits are around. Swimming – he likes to swim in circle, barking. He looks crazy, but he’s happy. Food (especially his favourite snack, a juicy sausage, after a long walk)

Wills & Wills Mentoring

wills & wills mentoring

Wilmslow

BOSTON – MENTOR, the unifying champion of the mentoring movement, announces the expansion of its leadership team with the addition of Tim Wills who joins as the organization’s first Chief Impact Officer on March 7. Tim will drive strategy, coordination, integration, and effectiveness of MENTOR’s teams focused in the areas of training and technical assistance; product design, development and ongoing usage; field research and evaluation; strategic partnerships and systems innovation; and Affiliate partnership, support, effectiveness, sustainability, and expansion. MENTOR CEO David Shapiro says, “We are so fortunate Tim is bringing his decades of experience as an advocate for youth, an innovator, a communicator, and local leader in one of the nation’s oldest and most expansive youth development organizations to our team and the mentoring movement. His personal and professional journey, commitment to supporting others’ development, community building talent, and deep commitment to young people will be such key drivers in our expanded and dynamic efforts to ensure all young people have the relationships they need to strive and thrive.” A native of Ferguson, Mo., Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. As a college student, he developed his passion for youth by covering human interest stories as on-air talent for his college television and radio stations which led to a 17-year career in youth development, including at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago, the District of Columbia, and Harford County, Md. In 2016, because of his extensive experience in organizational transformation and increasing club membership, quality improvement, innovative programming and funding, Tim was named the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama. In this role over the last six years, Tim led twelve year-round sites, three summer only programs, a 150-acre campground, and POINTE Academy, a school for detained and adjudicated youth. He’s received several honors and awards, including Boys & Girls Clubs Professional of the Year for his leadership, Mobile Bay 40 Under 40, and Benjamin Mays Excellence in Mentoring Award. Tim is an active member of the Lion’s Club and a member of the board of directors for Voices for Alabama’s Children and Linking All So Others Succeed (LASOS) in Maryland. He’s completed executive-level training in leadership, non-profit management, and advanced philanthropy from Harvard Business School, Stanford University, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. For 12 years, Tim has been a single foster parent and has fostered 20 children. He also has spent significant time teaching in VolunTourism trips to Haiti. “I’m thrilled to join the MENTOR community to continue the work of elevating the voices of young people across our country,” said Tim. “This new role will further deepen our ability to impact systematic change in order to open doors of opportunity and to close the mentoring gap. I am excited to get started working with our team, board, and stakeholders to continue strengthening and expanding the mentoring movement.” The role of Chief Impact Officer provides a critical new link and integration between so many of MENTOR’s core functions, key stakeholders, valued partners, and Affiliate network which provides local delivery, leadership, and innovations in service to the youth mentoring field nationwide. It will drive expanded impact, efficiency, and responsive servant leadership. Currently, MENTOR operates in collaboration with 24 local Affiliates across the country that galvanize their regional or statewide mentoring movements and provide leadership and structure to support quality mentoring through training, advocacy, and public awareness. Operating under the framework of One MENTOR, MENTOR Affiliates share resources and strategies to strengthen the national mentoring movement. Sadiq Ali, Executive Director of MENTOR Maryland | DC and a member of the CIO interview committee added, “I am greatly excited about Tim joining our One MENTOR family in such a critical role and at such a critical time. His perspective, having been on the frontlines of both local and national youth serving work, will be invaluable as he helps lead us into our next chapter as an Affiliate network, champions for young people, systems change advocates, and a sustainable, impactful organization.” ABOUT MENTOR MENTOR is the unifying champion for expanding the quality and quantity of mentoring relationships across the United States. 30 years ago, MENTOR was created to expand opportunities for young people by building a youth mentoring field and movement. The result: a more than 10-fold increase in young people in structured mentoring relationships. Today, MENTOR is the expert voice representing a movement that meets young people everywhere they are – from schools, to workplaces, and beyond. MENTOR operates in collaboration with 24 local Affiliates across the country. For more information, visit mentoring.org.

Darryl Syms Music

darryl syms music

I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13, with no prior experience on any other instrument. I lived in the UK at this time, and was inspired by my former guitar teacher to take up the instrument. I was very lucky to be guided in talented hands, and continuously inspired and challenged to strive for success as a musician. I remember taking every opportunity outside of school classes to hang out and watch my teacher and his best students, I found it memorising and inspiring. Within the first couple years of playing I was sure that I wanted to pursue music as a career. Through my teen-hood I would be practicing anywhere up to 10hrs a day, taking my guitar everywhere that I went. I did this for nothing more than the enjoyment it gave me. Around 16 during the early growth of YouTube I felt inspired to get my hands on a camera. For a few years I had to pinch my parents in secret (sorry Dad) since I couldn’t afford my own. I quickly grew to enjoy the art of video production, which compliments audio production like sand does the ocean. I posted a handful of YouTube videos at the time but I was extremely self critical and scared of what others might think, so it was never long before I took the videos down and re-did them over and over. It took me a few years to get over the barrier of self-confidence, and when I eventually began to accept myself for who I was I would post very occasional videos and considered my YouTube channel to be a portfolio of my own achievements. This “portfolio” didn’t receive much recognition at all, but it helped greatly when I decided to create a website and advertise for guitar lessons in my city. I quickly became quite established as a guitar teacher because unlike 99% of other teachers, I had video proof that I could play guitar and people found that inspiring. As adulthood approached me I was lucky enough to have a range of career opportunities to choose from, but my heart was always set on playing the guitar as a career, somehow. This was understandably a bit disappointing for my family because they saw my academic potential and hoped that I would strive for a more “reliable” and “stable” career. It certainly would have been easier that way in some regards, but I took the hard route because I just can’t resist a good challenge and I saw no alternatives to my primary passion. Teaching seemed like the easiest and most accessible way to make money, but as a newbie on the scene it wasn’t nearly enough for me to buy a car, pay rent, and endure the costly life of an adult. I took a job in retail and booked my guitar students around that. Cycling was my method of commuting everywhere, and cycling through steep hilly terrain on a single-speed bike with a guitar on your back is no fun, trust me.. but it had to be done! Despite the challenges, I worked incredibly hard to deliver the best job that I could to my students. After years of perseverance I finally had enough students to quit retail, and I had a car which saved so much time on transport. With the extra time I could reinvest it into my own practice, and create YouTube videos again… oh and surfing. Whilst I’d love to talk all about my surfing experience/career, you’re not here for that so let’s just say that for a few years hereafter I was just cruisin’. During this time I also worked in two high schools as a guitar teacher. In 2018 one of my YouTube videos got significantly more exposure than usual, and consequently I quickly reached 1000 subscribers – this was an incredible achievement for me! “Making it” on YouTube was always a ridiculously farfetched dream of mine, but it was at this point that I realised that – maybe it doesn’t have to be a dream. Fast forward to now, my YouTube channel has over 35,000 subscribers and over 3,000,000 views! I’ve created my own successful online guitar school with students across 60+ countries, worked and collaborated with a number of industry leading brands, and done session work for a mixture of clients both live and in studio. It’s been a tough ride, but a fun one!

Guidepost Montessori

guidepost montessori

Development takes the form of a drive toward an ever-greater independence. It is like an arrow released from the bow, which flies straight, swift and sure. The child’s conquest of independence begins with his first introduction to life. While he is developing, he perfects himself and overcomes every obstacle that he finds in his path.” MARIA MONTESSORI Founder of the Montessori Method of education The Montessori approach Montessori helps your child develop a fundamental, enduring love of learning and the deeply ingrained social, emotional, and academic skills they need to succeed as an adult. Montessori combines highly intentional learning materials, rich social development, and a joyous approach to practiced independence. Our mission Our singular mission at Guidepost is to guide and empower each child as she grows in her independence. In every child lives limitless human potential. For the child to realize that potential is to confidently grow and to joyously learn. It is to create and to love herself while gaining the knowledge to form a unique vision of her singular life. It is the security to live that vision, to dare greatly, to love others. The Montessori approach to human development is based on the belief in the potential of the child, and on the belief that it is only the child herself who can realize this potential. To grow up well is to grow up to be increasingly independent — to be increasingly capable, increasingly confident, increasingly secure, increasingly able to meet one’s own needs, forming one’s own values, and authoring one’s own life. Our job as caretakers is to understand and to love this process as it unfolds for children in our care, and to support the child in blazing her trail. The circumstances of children are as varied as children themselves. The specific needs, the precise resources available, the particular constraints faced by each child and each family are different. As times change, there is a need to keep step and to ensure that the application is timely. But the fundamental need is timeless: to help the child achieve her own development. So, too, is the fundamental method: to provide the child with material, environment, and guidance that is lovingly optimized to support her in that work. The support a child’s caretakers can provide for her burgeoning independence is multifaceted: We can provide materials and inspiration for her to do the work of growing and learning. Every child learns to walk, but not every child learns to walk in a way that feels like an exciting challenge, that redounds upon her confidence. So it is with all of human development and knowledge. The child achieves her own development by engagement and by practice. From grasping an object for the first time, to eating independently, to toileting, to putting her world to words—to the whole world of knowledge, of nature and quantity and life and culture—the effort that children put in can be magnified by thoughtful learning materials and guidance. We can carefully support a child’s environment, creating a wonderful world for her in which to grow up. Children are constantly interacting with and absorbing experiences from their environment. One of the best things we can do for a child is to set up a space where she can be maximally independent and efficacious, a space that is to her comprehensible and enticing, a space that is aesthetically and pedagogically rich. Whether it’s at school or at home, the principles are the same: a world that is accessible, orderly, and enticing is a world that is supportive of a child’s growth. We can prepare ourselves as caretakers of the child. Raising children is as demanding as it is rewarding. It requires that we spend ourselves in understanding and love, that we thoughtfully navigate the stages of a unique child’s development, and that have the self-awareness to manage our own lives, motivation, and energy as we do so. It is tremendously beneficial to both the child and her caretakers to elevate a teaching and parenting philosophy to consciousness, to take an integrated approach to the infinite texture of a child’s growth toward independence. Finally, we can connect with others, other parents, other teachers, other developmentalists and pedagogues, each of whom adds their own experience and wisdom to our accumulated knowledge about child development. Montessori is not just a philosophy of human development. It is also an applied pedagogy, one with over a century of validation, refinement, and grassroots international growth. Guidepost, and each member of our community, benefits tremendously by participating in that movement and history.