Time flies when you are having fun

9 years

3276 days

78624 hours

4,717,440 minutes

My 9th anniversary as leader here will be celebrated with our third office relocation and cake.

That is how long I have been the CEO at Backup North West, previously Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme. In that time a lot has happened both professionally and personally. It has been a roller coaster with many more ups than downs.

For Backup I have filled that time since 2012 with:-

Expansion

£465k - £3.2m turnover

13 – 67 employees

33-112 residents at any one time

Secured well over £15m in income

Opened new services; Lucas Project, PFD, Plan B, Chances team.

Relocated HQ twice to manage expansions

Won 2 tenders for local authority contracts

The Van

The Online Shop

Creating amazing content for annual reports and social media

Showstopping AGMs

Improving quality of services

Won Investors In People GOLD three times 2014. 2017, 2020

Invested in accommodation and its contents to make the environments more appealing

Established and acted on stakeholder, service user and staff feedback

Built on a culture and ethos that puts young people first

Maintained high staffing ratio (with qualified and experienced staff) even when challenged

Expanded geographically to give young people choices; we are not just a “warehouse”

Raising the profile

Rename and rebrand 2018

Networking

Charity fundraising events

Spangly balls

Media exposure – all positive

Guardians Scheme

Website development

AGM attendances increased from 30 people to 175+

Won numerous awards

Our House Music Video

Developing excellent relationships and partnerships with stakeholders

There have been periods of risk for Backup but we have grown through that risk continuously. I'm not listing our challenges in the last 9 years, there have been loads and we have managed to overcome them all. What are the reasons for this success?

Luck? A bit. Right place, right time, right contacts/connections.

Timing? Yes, it is important.

Partnerships? Definitely YES; nothing is achieved in isolation here at Backup. The staff teams, trustees, funders, landlords, guardians, supporters, donors, multiple agencies and individuals as well as the young people all contribute to the myriad of interconnections that achieve the great outcomes you hear about.

Culture? The culture is positive, open, no blame, autonomous, fun, progressive and much more. To be like this requires the input of everyone within the organisation and it requires trust. Our magnificent 7 company values have just been renewed as we felt it was important to make sure they were still relevant and we were working (living) by them.

1. Commitment

We are committed to:-

· tackling homelessness

· giving young people a positive chance

· delivery a high quality service

· being a fair and supportive employer

2. Honesty

We are fair, transparent and open in our work. We work always to do the right thing and value integrity above all else.

3. Empathy

We work hard to listen, understand and appreciate all perspectives.

4. Empowerment

Our role is to enable young people to take control of their decision making, live their best lives, become aware of their rights and choices.

5. Respect

All our services, activity, communication and behaviours are underpinned by respect. We encourage staff and young people alike to have regard for others but also we promote self-respect.

6. Resilience

Backup help young people to get back up and stay backup. This is our “bouncebackability” and it is something we possess as an organisation, as individual colleagues and that we help young people to fully develop.

7. Support

Backup is a back up. The support is a golden thread woven through the very fabric of the organisation; it is part of the service delivery, staff management, culture and our partnerships and connections with others.

Hard Work. That’s the one. I have worked my arse off (I wish this was literal) and so have those around me. I am so proud of my role and the fact I get to work with and meet the most amazing people. In 9 years collectively you have assisted Backup to have life changing impacts with young people who for a time have nothing and no-one else. My vision for the organisation has become as reality and we continue to thrive.

Personally I have filled that same time with:-

· Getting married

· Moved house twice, and about to again for the third time

· Been a Trustee and am still the Chair of Trustees at Endeavour Domestic Abuse Charity

· Now a new Trustee at Whysup support

· Was a trustee for 3 years at Homeless Link national charity

· Got a dog, my first one

· Lost 5 stones

· Gained 5 stones

· Been to Buckingham Palace to a garden party

· Made new friends, loving old friends and let some toxic connections go

· Been to the funerals of 2 close friends and 3 others who died way too soon and reminded me that life is for living, but within that you need to prioritise yourself. I was present with one as she passed.

· Winning multiple awards for leadership, business and being inspiring

· Developing skills in public speaking, radio presenting and now dabbling with stand up comedy

· Coaching various people for free because I wanted them to see their own potential

· Turning 50

· Became interim kinship foster parents for my 2 grandchildren in Nov 2019; soon to become permanent. So my future involves parents evenings, Guides, scouts, superheroes, swimming lessons, play doh, school runs, toys in the bath, holidays that are now twice as expensive and all sorts of things I thought I’d never have to deal with again.

So what?

It sounds manic, but in amongst all this has been holidays, holistic treatments, long walks, dinners with friends, socializing, gigs, cinema and time for me. That has been just as important. 9 years ago I never imagined the list of achievements might look like this, if I had I would have found it overwhelming. Each days comes; I do my best. I am happy.

I am probably past the half way point of my life now and I want to make every minute count, for others who need help and for me and my new modern family. If time flies for you make sure it’s for good reason and it has a good share of things that make you happy.