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Congratulations to the inspiring graduates of our My Life and Me workshops in partnership with Community Gateway. From picking up new skills for budgeting, benefits, and using the NHS to building self-esteem and understanding mental health challenges – they have taken a big step towards taking control of their future. A big well done to you all – it’s been a rewarding journey we have taken together over cups of tea, not forgetting all the celebration chocolates and cake along the way! Feedback from our graduates . . . “I’ve found Kerry and Lorna to be very welcoming, and the atmosphere was positive. I feel more confident, and I realise that I’m not as insecure as I thought I was. What I have enjoyed most about these workshops is getting to know people.” “The difference that I have noticed since day one is that I feel more confident, and I have enjoyed meeting new people.” “I am happy that I have attended and contributed to all the sessions. These groups are very friendly. I have now started taking baby steps toward getting a job.” At My Life and Me, we are passionate about providing our workshop attendees with meaningful experiences. If you’re interested in making a difference by attending or partnering with us for future sessions next year – please do contact us! We look forward to hearing from you soon.

My Life and Me is delivered in partnership with Community Gateway and is open to ages 16-65 across the Preston area. My Life and Me workshops will teach My Life and Me will teach you how to survive and thrive in this new world! You’ll leave empowered by knowledge, tools, and newfound confidence, ready to take on your next steps!

We are absolutely delighted to have won the SELNET Enterprise in Society Start-Up Social Enterprise 2022 Award! What a phenomenal evening celebrating the good work of so many people and organisations in Lancashire – a big well done to all the nominees and winners 🏆👏

This is the first job of the day at Myerscough College Farms – car park duty! For the past twelve months, (come wind, rain, or shine) we have proudly supported Myerscough College Farms on their journey to net zero and it’s so exciting to see what they’re accomplishing. The Myerscough College Ag Net Zero Challenge supports farm businesses with low-carbon farming practices in line with the Government’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050 and coincides with the current agricultural transition seven-year phasing out period of the basic payment scheme. Twelve months ago, Myerscough College Farms started its ongoing journey to Net Zero. A carbon audit was completed to determine CO2 emissions from the farm. Mitigating measures were implemented – the results of which were demonstrated at yesterday’s event. Take a look at what’s been going on here https://agnet-zerochallenge.com/!

Sharing an article read elsewhere. I came across this article this morning, loved it, and just had to share it – this article celebrates those characteristics which make up human intelligence. Intelligent people are often celebrated for their creativity, wisdom, and leadership skills. Intelligence is not just about having an excellent brain capacity – there’s so much more to it than that! “According to Psychologists, there are four types of Intelligence: 1) Intelligence Quotient (IQ) 2) Emotional Quotient (EQ) 3) Social Quotient (SQ) 4) Adversity Quotient (AQ) 1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ): this is the measure of your level of comprehension. You need IQ to solve math’s, memorize things, and recall lessons. 2. Emotional Quotient (EQ): this is the measure of your ability to maintain peace with others, keep to time, be responsible, be honest, respect boundaries, be humble, genuine and considerate. 3. Social Quotient (SQ): this is the measure of your ability to build a network of friends and maintain it over a long period of time. People that have higher EQ and SQ tend to go further in life than those with a high IQ but low EQ and SQ. Most schools capitalize on improving IQ levels while EQ and SQ are played down. A man of high IQ can end up being employed by a man of high EQ and SQ even though he has an average IQ. Your EQ represents your Character, while your SQ represents your Charisma. Give in to habits that will improve these three Qs, especially your EQ and SQ. Now there is a 4th one, a new paradigm: 4. The Adversity Quotient (AQ): The measure of your ability to go through a rough patch in life, and come out of it without losing your mind. When faced with troubles, AQ determines who will give up, who will abandon their family, and who will consider suicide. Parents please expose your children to other areas of life than just Academics. They should adore manual labour (never use work as a form of punishment), Sports and Arts. Develop their IQ, as well as their EQ, SQ and AQ. They should become multifaceted human beings able to do things independently of their parents. Finally, do not prepare the road for your children. Prepare your children for the road.”

Beanstalk Business Support CIC has been a personal dream of mine for many years, and I am so proud (and humbled) that it has finally come true. Every combination of events in my life has led to Beanstalk! Teenage mum At 16 years of age, I was still at school when my son was born. This left me in a position where I had no qualifications or skills for employment, and I was reliant on state benefits and living in social housing. My family had to move away for work, leaving me as a vulnerable lone parent. Without family support, I experienced a range of mental health issues that included loneliness and intense social isolation. As my mental health deteriorated, it became harder for me to see a way forward – yet I desperately wanted to improve the life of myself and my son. Joyce came into my life. By chance, I came across a project for young mums to attend a work placement programme and college. Not only could I achieve an education and work experience, but they also funded a nursery place for my son. I was assigned a job coach – Joyce Boreham, and with her support, encouragement, and empathy, I completed the work placement programme, gained a business administration qualification, and achieved the skills and confidence necessary for permanent employment and a meaningful career. This changed my life and paved a new path for me. Without the support from Joyce, this may never have happened, and I’ve dedicated my life to be that person for others. Empowering them to improve their life chances. I have over 25 years of professional experience supporting people towards employment, whether this has been through overseeing work placements and apprenticeships through previous employment or supporting those on funded projects for Myerscough College, Preston Vocational Centre, and Community Gateway Association. One step at a time. Everything that I have learned through my personal and professional experience has shown how vital it is for everyone to be able to access education, learning, and a meaningful career. I saw first-hand and have witnessed others who have also felt that moving forwards is too big a task. Even if a course has been on offer, the barriers to attending have piled up so that confidence, self-belief, and motivation have been shattered. I have set up Beanstalk to break down these barriers to employment one step at a time. This is achieved by continuing to provide projects that offer wrap-around pastoral support, work experience, understanding, and encouragement. I am thankful every day for the opportunity that was given to me. If it wasn’t for the support of Joyce, my job coach, and accessing the project, I’m not sure where my son and I would be now. The impact of these projects is immeasurable – it helps change the lives of so many people for the better! Beanstalk is making a difference to as many people as possible, just as my job coach did for me. I dedicate Beanstalk to Joyce with love and thanks. Kerry x

Please take a minute to have a look at my Powtoons presentation about my time doing work experience at Beanstalk Business Support. Work Experience at Beanstalk – my personal benefits, by Liam White What does Beanstalk do? My Time Working at Beanstalk! I have worked with Beanstalk Business Support for several months. I started working for Beanstalk to improve my business skills, which also helped excessively when it came to taking my business GCSE exams. Whilst studying at Myerscough part-time, and taking my GCSEs at home – a job seemed practically impossible. Joining Beanstalk allowed me to work in my spare time to get support if things were difficult. Progression to College – Skills I will leave with include: The Best Parts of Working Here Include: What I Have Learned at Beanstalk: “Beanstalk has helped me to grow professionally and learn things I couldn’t have elsewhere. They provide new opportunities all the time, allowing me to grow and explore. We attended an awards ceremony (my first). It allowed me to interact with other companies and discover how businesses tie into social events. Beanstalk has allowed me to grow my social skills and my organisation skills drastically.” Join Beanstalk for your Work Experience! By Liam White

Beanstalk Business Support CIC (www.beanstalkbusiness.co.uk) is a registered Community Interest Company that aims to make a difference, benefit society, and positively impact communities. At Beanstalk, we know that sustainable employment is crucial for communities and individuals. So, our number one priority is to create meaningful employment opportunities. We support businesses to keep providing essential jobs. We also help individuals become the best candidates for these roles. Do you want to make a difference? Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to help others to improve their lives, and the lives of their families and to make a positive contribution to their local community? Then Beanstalk is for you. We are committed to making a difference and we need motivated and passionate teammates who can help make it happen. Who we’re looking for ​We are looking for an engaging and enthusiastic workshop facilitator who specialises in Personal Development and Life Skills and has a genuine interest in helping people reach their full potential within the world of work. This role is offered on a flexible basis, with various working hours, and is based in Lancashire. In this role, you will be required to. The perks Specification You may have the skills, passion, and attributes that make you the ideal candidate for this role but find it hard to evidence all criteria. We consider all applications, and we are committed to finding the right person and will invest in their professional and personal development. If you can help others – we can help you. An important bit Beanstalk Business Support is committed to a diverse and inclusive culture. We promote equality and challenge discrimination. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Every member of our team has their own role in relation to Safeguarding – it’s everyone’s responsibility! How to apply If you think that we share similar values and you would enjoy facilitating some of our workshops, please send us your CV with a cover email to [email protected]. Please call 0300 365 5530 if you would like any further information or a quick chat about the role. We hope to hear from you soon! __________________________________________________________________________________ This appointment is subject to the receipt of satisfactory references, and a Disclosure & Barring Service check. Interviews will explore issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including motivation to work with and ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people together with emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours and attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline. *All self-employed people are responsible for paying their own taxes and National Insurance. ________________________________________________________________________________

Beanstalk Business Support CIC is a registered Community Interest Company that aims to make a difference, benefit society, and positively impact communities. At Beanstalk, we know that sustainable employment is crucial for communities and individuals. So, our number one priority is to create meaningful employment opportunities. We support businesses to keep providing essential jobs. We also help individuals become the best candidates for these roles. Do you want to make a difference? Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to help others to improve their lives, and the lives of their families and to make a positive contribution to their local community? Then Beanstalk is for you. We are committed to making a difference and we need motivated and passionate teammates who can help make it happen. Who we’re looking for ​We are looking for an engaging and enthusiastic tutor or trainer who specialises in food and cookery and has a genuine interest in helping people reach their full potential. This role is offered in partnership with Victoria’s Corner, on a flexible basis with various working hours, and is based in Lancashire. We have a current opportunity in North Lancashire every Monday afternoon (term-time) on our Skills for Schools project. In this role, you will be required to. Help raise expectations and aspirations of students, to enthuse, motivate and create ownership of their own development. The perks Specification An important bit Beanstalk Business Support is committed to a diverse and inclusive culture. We promote equality and challenge discrimination. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Every member of our team has their own role in relation to Safeguarding – it’s everyone’s responsibility! How to apply If you think that we share similar values and you would enjoy tutoring some of our workshops, please send us your CV with a cover email to [email protected]. Please call 0300 365 5530 if you would like any further information or a quick chat about the role. We hope to hear from you soon! __________________________________________________________________________________ This appointment is subject to the receipt of satisfactory references, and a Disclosure & Barring Service check. Interviews will explore issues relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including motivation to work with and ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people together with emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours and attitudes to use of authority and maintaining discipline. *All self-employed people are responsible for paying their own taxes and National Insurance. __________________________________________________________________________________

From everyone at Beanstalk we want to wish Liam (who has been with us for work experience for the past year) a BIG congratulations on his fantastic GCSE results and for securing a level 3 place at college – what a guy! We are going to miss your bright, happy, and always helpful attitude – as well as your brilliant Powtoons presentations (none of us knows how to use Powtoons – what will we do without you?). Your future looks bright and we love seeing you shine. Thank you for always being amazing! All our best wishes. The Beanstalk Team Click here to see one of Liam’s presentations about his time at Beanstalk – just brilliant!

The future is bright for our new office in Brentwood House, with the Community Futures and SELNET teams. Thanks to UnLtd who gave us funding for a year’s rent, we can’t wait to start welcoming the people of Preston onto our work-placement programmes! #thankyou #socialimpact #togetherUnLtd #socent #lancashire Our new address is: Beanstalk Business Support CIC Brentwood House 15 Victoria Road Fulwood Preston Lancashire PR2 8PS

I just wanted to say how much we’ve enjoyed supporting the NCS Enterprise Challenge delivered by Inspira in Burnley this week. We provided the group with a real-life business challenge and these budding young entrepreneurs in the making did an exceptional job of finding solutions. The group brainstormed some really great ideas for a new service that they thought Beanstalk Business could provide. They created an engaging mind map and then finalized their design with stunning artwork! The advantages section is full of great ideas. The group are really passionate about improving employee health and wellbeing, plus they know how important it can be for productivity as well! With regards to slogans – I think “In the Need-to Clean” is super relevant at the moment with the new Top Gun movie being shown. We could change this slightly so it reads: I feel the need – the NEED – to clean,” but then again, maybe not because that would be too corny… The group has a lot of flair, and I love the name they chose for their final artwork. It’s so creative! I also really like Clutter Be Gone and Declutter the Clutter, so I’m chuffed that the group decided on one of these too. There’s so much good stuff – I’m very impressed, and to be honest, the only thing that I could find to improve their marketing strategy is to mention going paperless in offices – but hey – that’s just me grasping at straws to find something! My only question for the group is about this homemade spray cleaner – does it work – because I really need this in my life? Keep following Beanstalk Business Support to see our upcoming plans for an office decluttering service – courtesy of Burnley’s NCS Group (Summer 2022) – we thank you for being so enthusiastic and great with your ideas! What is NCS? Designed especially for 16 and 17-year-olds, the NCS experience will give you a clearer idea of what you want from your future turning all those ‘No You Cants’ into No We Can. We exist to engage, unite and empower young people, building your confidence so you can go out there and achieve your dreams, no matter where you’re from or what your background is. You’ll spend a few weeks in the summer or autumn mixing with a new crowd and taking on fresh challenges together. Before you know it, you’ll be rooting for each other, as you all tackle your own little hurdles. Along the way, you’ll also get a taste of independence and pick up skills that’ll help you smash your future goals. And if that’s not enough for you, you’ll also be given a platform to get your voice heard and pursue a passion project to create a positive, lasting impact in your local community. Who are Inspira? Inspira is an expert in employability skills. Through their work, they help local people into work, improve their skills, and open new opportunities. Their aim is to support disadvantaged people and help local communities reduce inequalities which in turn will influence healthier, safer, and more sustainable local economies. They inspire young people and adults to find their purpose and reach their potential to Be Bold, Be Relevant and Be Resilient. From National Careers Service to National Citizen Service, they are there every step of the way supporting individuals.