• Instilling confidence and self motivation into the community, resulting in more engaged and involved residents.
• Enhancing their commitment to the area and pride in their own work as well as developing life skills.
• Working towards achieving sustainable independent living, reducing reliance on external services.

The engagement took the form of:

• Coffee afternoons
• IT support sessions – training and confidence in using these skills.
• Drop-in support sessions.
• Confidence to Shine workshops.
• Working with existing groups within the area.
• Attending Severnside’s Resident Conferences and open days.

Impact

We worked with some residents who were looking to return to work following long periods away from work due to illness, injury and family commitments. When we first engaged with these people, they felt very out of control, lacking in confidence and did not find they were getting the support they needed. We worked with them, sharing hints and tips on improving self confidence and motivation and helped them to create their own realistic action plans and strategies for returning to work as well as ensuring that they were able to develop self sustaining skills for maintaining confidence and motivation levels.

We also worked with individuals to help them develop confidence and awareness of unrecognised skills and to generate ideas of how these skills could be put to use for their own benefit and for the community generally. In some of these cases, we gave practical IT training and support. All of which combined to help combat feelings of isolation in some individuals.

We also worked with young people who had experienced difficulty getting a foot on the job ladder and helped them to develop skills and confidence and practical action plans to achieve their goals.

***Self evaluation impact questionnaires carried out before and after the workshops highlighted an increase in self confidence, feeling of control, motivation and skills awareness from an average of        3.8 out of 10 to 8.6 out of 10. ***

“I would like to say thank you for all your efforts in delivering the project, the engagement with our residents has been beneficial.  We recognise that the work of Beyond Brilliance has given our residents the opportunity to explore new avenues and to build on self-confidence and I am sure that this has made a positive impact on their lives.”

Marianne Grant, Senior Community Development Officer, Severnside Housing

Confidence to Shine workshops are available for delivery to groups of all types and sizes who are looking to improve confidence, assertiveness, self motivation and to develop practical plans towards a self sustaining and independent future.

If so, come along to an exclusive afternoon workshop on Thursday 26th April 2012 to learn tools and techniques which will help you build better relationship with clients and potential clients and secure more paying work.

How you can reach up and grab STAR clients….and keep them twinkling

For booking and more details: beyondbrilliancestarclientsapril12

Ask yourself:

Before we engage and interact with prospective clients, how much better would it be if we were really clear on who those clients are, what their needs are and what motivates them to buy?

Many of the businesses I’ve interacted with over the years were unwittingly making the ‘easily avoidable’ mistake of not having a clear picture of their STAR client’s profile.

This workshop will show you how you can:

•    Create a clear and comprehensive client profile
•    Understand the client’s needs and motivations
•    Build genuine and long lasting rapport
•    Develop easy and quick ways to establish trust
•    Make the buying experience easy
•    Keep clients happy so that they come back for more

And the best bit is:

You don’t have to become ‘Salesperson of the year’ to achieve this! All of the tools and techniques you learn will also make sure that you can still be your authentic self.

As well as that, you’ll learn how you can:

•    Improve your relationships with clients by using powerful language
•    Use the science of influence in practical ways and keep your integrity intact

We’d love to see you there for a fun and interactive workshop where you’ll support and learn from each other as well.

If you have any questions about the workshop, please do give us a call on 01743 818637 or email at michaela@beyondbrilliance.co.uk

It’s not often that you and I consider giving up to be the best option in a certain situation, but with the release of the review of last summer’s riots that stated “Young people who develop character will be best placed to make the most of their lives.” there’s now a strong argument to do so.  Give up on our youth?  Give up on the country’s future?  Give up on society? Give up? Absolutely not, I hear you say.  But for once, there’s a strong argument in favour of doing so.  I recently received an email from a friend with a list of things that we should give up to be happy and by the time I had read it, I thought yes, it’s time to give up.  Among the things that it suggested were; self-defeating talk, blame, limiting beliefs, excuses and living up to other people’s expectations.  These, I believe, are the most powerful within the list that every child, teen and adult should strive to give up in order to improve lives and society.

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts.  With our thoughts we make the world.”

Buddha

Let’s take the first, self-defeating talk, that often noisy, negative, nagging voice that tells us to stop before we’ve even started or that we will fail.  Some say it’s good as it’s the voice of realism, and yes we need to consider at times what our inner voice is telling us as it can serve to be a great protector, yet often it can prove to be a great inhibitor, helping us to talk ourselves out of what we fear most.  At times when our inner voice is questioning our decisions, we must choose to ignore it and press on with what we know we should be doing or achieving.  If today’s children and teenagers, particularly those from disadvantaged areas learned to replace their self-defeating talk with positive self-talk, they would find new depths of self-belief and drive, to help them overcome what looks to be a dire and on-going prospect of unemployment, debt and general doom and gloom.  If one or two young people change their thinking from “there’s no alternative to their current situation”, to exploring that there may be something out there for them, this in turn opens up new possibilities that they had never considered, such as self-employment, portfolio careers (yes for teens and those in their twenties as so many have skills that others want that they don’t even know that they have) that would be one or two less young people heading to the back of the dole queue. The question now is, are you going to do your part and do away with the negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts that will move you towards your goals?

“A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame someone else and stops trying.”

John Burroughs

Blame is something that too often becomes a natural reaction and in some cases a reflexive reaction to a situation that hasn’t gone as expected.  It’s so easy to blame others, circumstances and/or tools rather than taking a good and hard look at ourselves and how we may have contributed to the outcome.  Don’t get me wrong, there are times when blame does lie elsewhere but by blaming things outside of ourselves, we are as the email points out giving away our powers to others.  When I speak about powers, I’m not referring to the supernatural powers of well-known fictional characters that may jump to mind, but the power of being able to affect the outcome of any given situation with which you’re involved.  This might require stepping up and doing your best or being aware of potential shortcomings and actively rectifying them where possible.  Blame is the easiest and laziest way out as it’s a great avoidance strategy for not looking at ourselves as a key contributor to the outcome.  I think that is one of the key contributing factors to what happened last summer.  Our youth have been given points to focus their blame such as, the Government is not providing work or it’s not our fault we don’t have anything else to do.  It’s time we educate the young about the dangers of blame and transferring their power to other people by showing them how to be proactive in changing their situation and the earlier in life this is done the better.

I say we give up blame and decide to be the change and make a change, making every day a day of proactivity.  Should we find ourselves blaming something or someone we need to take a moment to stop and ask ourselves, how could I have created a different outcome?

It is vital that our youth are provided with the right information at the right time, to make the right choices.  Every child and teenager deserves to be provided with the tools to be the best they can be, to nurture their hopes and dreams for a brighter future even if in some cases the best tool is giving up.

So the thought of giving up, can be and is as powerful as persevering. What will you choose to give up to make a change?  Give it up and move on.

Onika Griffith-Elliott is a self confessed leadership junkie who has and continues to devour anything around this topic.  This, combined with her passion for self improvement and motivating others to make changes in their lives has lead her to develop a Character Development programme for Primary and Secondary School Children that teaches personal leadership through action and contribution.  Onika has worked in the Talent Management and Welfare to Work industries.

We’re delighted to announce the launch of the film Social Enterprise Media Showcase at this months’ Venture meeting. The film was the brainchild of and commissioned by Nicky Kent, Social Enterprise Business Outreach Coach at the Community Council of Shropshire and produced by Appletree Theatre and Film Company CIC; it was filmed as part of Shropshire’s Social Enterprise Day celebrations where the Community Council of Shropshire held a media showcase day of inspiring and practical workshops.

If you were there, then this will be your chance to see yourself on the ‘Silver Screen’!

This will be followed by presentations by two of our members who will share the stories of their businesses so far and call us on for support and ideas to help them become even better!

As always, our delightful host Jim Hawkins will be on hand to inspire, encourage and entertain us.

Here’s the link to book:  http://ventureshropshirefeb12.eventbrite.com

We look forward to seeing you there.

• Improve your chances of getting work
• Build up your confidence
• Develop new skills
• Take control of your own future
• Create a practical and positive  action plan

These fun, interactive half day workshops will help you do all of this and more.

Let us help you to discover what it is you want to achieve and get support in taking those first steps.

When: 9.30-1.30pm on Wednesday 25th January and Wednesday 1st February 2012 (both need to be attended)

Where: Trinity Centre, Meole Village, Shrewsbury  SY3 9HF

How: Booking is essential – Please call 01743 818637 or email hello@beyondbrilliance.co.uk

Spaces are limited so book now to guarantee your place. We look forward to seeing you there!

Last month we were delighted to have with us Shropshire’s very own inspirational MBE, Jean Jarvis of South Shropshire Furniture Scheme and Reviive who shared her story of growing her businesses.

We had great fun with our Christmas theme and even had an elf on hand to act as side kick to the fabulous Jim Hawkins as Santa!

As always, we are incredibly grateful to Nicky Kent, Social Enterprise Business Outreach Coach at the Community Council of Shropshire for her ongoing support in making this group possible.

This month’s event takes place on Wednesday 18 January 2012 from 6-8pm at The Atcham Memorial Hall in Shrewsbury and you can book here: http://ventureshropshirejan12.eventbrite.com

We look forward to seeing you there.

Our inspiring and empathic host Jim Hawkins gave us a taste of his amazing versatility last month by switching places to become our guest speaker. He shared with us his considerable experience and skills to help us to benefit from and interact with the media. Timely indeed given the great event planned for Social Enterprise Day on 17^th November from the Community Council. For more details follow this link: http://www.beyondbrilliance.co.uk/news/shropshire-celebrates-social-enterprise-day/

As a special Christmas present for the group, our guest speaker will be Shropshire’s own MBE Social Entrepreneur, Jean Jarvis from South Shropshire Furniture Scheme and Reviive.

There will also be some great festive fayre and a jolly Christmas competition!

As always, we are incredibly grateful to Nicky Kent, Social Enterprise Business Outreach Coach at the Community Council of Shropshire for her ongoing support in making this group possible.

This month’s event takes place on Wednesday 7 December from 6-8pm at The Atcham Memorial Hall in Shrewsbury and you can book here: http://ventureshropshirexmas11.eventbrite.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

Led by the Community Council of Shropshire and funded through Growing Social Enterprise in West Midlands ERDF programme, the day will be promoting awareness of the amazing and diverse activities that social enterprises in Shropshire are doing.

The day will be used to film a promotional DVD and will be facilitated by Shropshire’s own Social Enterprise Appletree Theatre and Film Company. Social enterprises will have the opportunity to hone their media skills, appearing on camera during the day as well as attending workshops in which they will learn about practical ways to maximise their unique selling point of being ‘businesses which allow society to profit’ when promoting themselves in all formats of media.

The end result will be a DVD which will be used on an ongoing promotional basis. Nicky Kent, Social Enterprise Business Outreach Coach from the Community Council says “we hope the DVD will emphasise that Shropshire is a diverse county which has a great mix of remote villages and big areas of regeneration from which a wide range of social enterprises have grown. I am keen to use Social Enterprise Day and the DVD to shine a light on them all.”

The day will be facilitated by Nicky Kent at the Community Council, Appletree Theatre and Film Company, as well as Jim Hawkins of BBC Radio Shropshire and Jim Hawkins Limited and Michaela Hardwick of Beyond Brilliance CIC who together run Venture, a voluntary networking group for Social Enterprises in Shropshire.

Those already running or interested in social enterprises are welcome to come along between 10.30am – 3.30pm and watch the day unfold and you may even be invited to contribute! To continue the theme of this being all about Shropshire, the event will be held at Hampton Hayes Farm, Worthen, Shrewsbury, home of the Dragonfly Project CIC.

For more information, please contact Nicky Kent on 01743 342178 or check out the website at http://www.shropshire-rcc.org.uk/voluntary_sector_support/supporting_social_enterprises

Last month, by popular request we were treated to some great presentation skills training from Lesley Long of Go Wild for a Change who shared her considerable expertise with us with fabulous effervescence and enthusiasm – thanks Lesley.

We’re delighted to tell you that this month, our inimitable and amazing host Jim Hawkins is switching places and has agreed to be our guest speaker. He will be using his skills of developing natural rapport, encouragement, insight and humour as well as his considerable experience to give us some hints and tips on how to benefit from and interact with the media. This is particularly timely given that Social Enterprise Week is just around the corner and you may want get some PR for your social enterprise!  Also, if you haven’t already checked out Jim’s website, we recommend you do – you’ll learn 10 things you probably didn’t know about him! www.jimhawkins.co.uk

We’ll also be hearing from a couple of local social enterprises to tell us about their successes and challenges they have faced, some of which the group may be able to help with.

As always, we are incredibly grateful to Nicky Kent, Social Enterprise Business Outreach Coach at the Community Council of Shropshire for her ongoing support in making this group possible.

This month’s event takes place on Wednesday 2 November from 6-8pm at The Atcham Memorial Hall in Shrewsbury and booking is here: http://ventureshropshirenov11.eventbrite.com

We look forward to seeing you there!