Mighty oaks from little acorns grow

Since that inaugural event our approach has been a ‘bespoke’ way of working, tailored to individuals.

Here are some of the ways in which we have helped people to develop their skills and talents so that they have been able to find creative and self-supporting work and/or future possibilities of work within the creative and skilled industries.

...Joshua, a young tenor from inner city Manchester with a late diagnosis of quite severe dyslexia, gained a place at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music Saturday school where he studied successfully for a year. The Gettalife Project match-funded his Junior RNCM tuition fees.  Subsequently he studied for a time at Trinity Laban but later transferred to Birmingham Conservatoire on a full bursary where he completed his degree, training as a high baritone.

...Joe, with a great love of music but no technical knowledge or training was supported to learn keyboard skills, mentored and taught by professional pianist and performer, Andrew Wilde, enabled by the Gettalife Project. This was in addition to his A level music studies. He wholeheartedly seized the opportunities offered him. When we were last in touch with this young man, he was considering the possibility of a musical career and indeed he has gone on to study music technology at Salford University.

... Sefton, a young man in his late twenties, whose dream was to train to become a barrister: we helped match-fund to enable him to complete his bar exams in 2009 - 2012. He was called to the Bar in October 2011 and when last in touch, we were told he had been successful in an application for permanent work with a legal firm and had recently been involved with teaching at college/university level.

...We supported two young men, who had been struggling with employment, to start a gardening and maintenance business on a small council estate in an area of South Manchester.  With our help they were enabled to buy a good quality van for their work as well as obtain insurance.

...For a seven year period we were in collaboration with Xaverian Sixth Form College. This culminated in the "Spring in Winter" concert at RNCM in which we showcased up-and-coming young talent alongside professional musicians.

...During this seven year period, we also supported a number of talented young people at Xaverian sixth-form college, by mentoring and bursaries, helping them fund their individual instrumental tuition at Xaverian College as a part of skill acquisition which enabled possible University or music college entrance.

...We supported two young women who had to leave home and live independently with the help of Social Services. One is now a full-time student at Leeds University.

...Rabin. We enabled a strategy to help a young lad whose parents were successful asylum seekers due to religious persecution. They now live in Preston. Rabin, along with other students of potential, was linked to a high quality professional musician - a drummer and percussionist, who affirmed this young man’s considerable talent. Rabin had a glowing report from his head of music as a potential percussionist in jazz and classical and contemporary music. He later graduated from his sixth form college to a music Conservatoire in Leeds which has a focus on cross-genre musical composition as well as other classic musical skills.

...A young woman with significant family difficulties which resulted in her living independently was supported in her music studies through individual lessons. She made considerable progress both in music theory and in her musical theatre studies. Most important for this young person was the friendly mentoring offered by the Gettalife worker. This young woman, after sixth form studies at Xaverian, went on to become a  full-time student at Leeds University.

...Rachel featured alongside Joshua in our Spring and Winter concert at RNCM.  Over quite a number of years during her time at RNCM, the Gettalife Project supported this talented, potentially gifted musical accompanist and performer. We paid for a CD recording and travel to her first professional recital.

...Adam began a major career rethink in his early thirties. The Gettalife Project enabled a latent talent to emerge and flourish through a travel grant to attend a book binding conference. The next stage was to enable a move to Ruthin where he became a full-time apprentice to designer bookbinder Paul Delrue. Adam is now a fully-fledged book-binder in his own right, working alongside Paul, a designer book-binder of national and international reputation.

...Chloe who had no educational qualifications but who was keen to take advantage of a new opportunity, was given a trial period at Timpson’s and then after some months, she secured a permanent contract. Although no longer working for Timpson’s, that first start in a working environment showed her and her family what is possible, with commitment, motivation and hard work.

...Stewart was given a new beginning with a chance to work on a high quality apprenticeship scheme in catering at a city centre hotel. After having had a minor criminal record, he successfully completed his first year, then moved to work closer to home.

...The Midland Apprenticeship Training. Prior to Lockdown in March 2020, we were delighted to have three catering apprentices training at the Midland Hotel in the centre of Manchester under the leadership of Head Executive Chef, Brian Spark: Aaron, Luke and Max. Above are just some of the high quality creations made by Luke, typical of what all the apprentices produced.  As lockdown eased in Spring 2021, Luke secured the role of Commis Chef in the Pastry section of the Midland kitchens. He has since gone on to work in a high-end restaurant in central Manchester.

...The exception that proves the rule. Due to exceptional complex circumstances, we supported a young medical student who had dreamed of becoming a doctor from when she was six years old. After overcoming numerous life challenges, she had self-funded her medical studies at Keele University until her second year during which she came to our notice. We felt it right, although we do not fund students at University level, to offer support in this instance, due to her very particular circumstances. This young woman has now completed the final year of her studies and we are delighted to wish her well as she takes up her first role within the NHS.

Over several years, we worked in partnership with others to make warm clothing and knitted or crocheted blankets for young people in difficult circumstances who were setting out on their own accommodation. A handmade cheerful woollen blanket can bring such cheer to an otherwise impersonal space.

In Liverpool, we partnered with the Church of England Team of Churches in Maghull and Melling to make warm items of clothing, particularly hats, scarves and gloves, which were donated to the Church of James in the City. From there the clothing was distributed to families in need and adults dealing with homelessness.

In Manchester, we partnered with a retirement home to create warm clothing which was given to the Booth Centre near the city centre which works with homeless people.