Looking forward to meeting Kirsty from Make Bank today. They provide art material kits and online resources for young people interested in pursuing creative careers. Their aim is to fight against creative poverty and work towards a diverse industry with equal opportunities for everyone. Check them out at https://www.themakebank.org.uk

Thank you to Liverpool Hope University’s Creative Campus for visiting the NeurodiverCity Training Academy and Fashion Hub today. Professor Stephen Davismoon the Dean of School of Creative and Performing Arts and Creative Campus and Dr Kathrin Wagner their Assistant Registrar visited to discuss possible future PhD projects.

First face to face (although socially distanced) studio interview in almost 2 years Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside this afternoon with the wonderful Billy Hui about the launch of the NeurodiverCity Training Academy… … a Liverpool 1st and a unique partnership between the Cornerstones Foundation, ADHD Foundation, Virtual School Liverpool, Positive Futures Liverpool, The Learning Foundry, The Women’s Organisation, Assess Education, Fashion Hub - Liverpool and St Vincent’s School for Sensory Impairment. Thank you to Billy and Gaz for looking after me today.

Where do we start? “Life changing” “Best launch ever” “Those young people - wow” “Jack got me at ‘I have a home, I have a job and I have hope’” “The school that excluded me now ask me to speak at that school” Thank you to the 200 wonderful and new NeurodiverCity Training Academy ambassadors for attending tonight’s launch. PS Alison Moyet and Rory Bremner were amazing tonight.. …as were the teams from the ADHD Foundation, Cornerstones Foundation, Women’s Organisation, The Learning Foundry, Positive Futures, Fashion Hub - Liverpool, Assess Education, Virtual School Liverpool, the BIPC, Liverpool John Moores University’s Fashion School, our caterer (amazing) and Guac 'n' Roll Vegan Kitchen

Clare Corran, CEO of Positive Futures says:👇 “As an organisation we hope the project is able to provide young people the opportunity to gain the correct skills and training through quality and meaningful education to progress further onto employment, further education or training. This will hopefully allow them to reach their true potential. We believe it is an important project as it aims to provide LAC and Neurodiverse young people the opportunity to access education and gain relevant qualifications. This levels the playing field with their peers when it comes to progressing into adult life. Positive Futures will be involved in the delivery side of the programme delivering personal development sessions which will contribute to the qualification eventually gained by the young people involved. The promotion of equality and celebrating diversity sets this project aside from others. We believe this project will be welcoming to the young people involved rather that intimidating which is usually associated with education, employment and training. This project also highlights that regardless of circumstance everyone should be afforded the same opportunity to grow and flourish. We are delighted to be able to play our part in the project, in partnership, with The ADHD Foundation, the Virtual School, the Women’s Organisation and the Fashion Hub and can’t wait to get started.”

Maggie O’Carroll, Chief Executive at The Women’s Organisation says: 👇 “We’re thrilled to be part of the neurodiversity challenge. The project is perfectly aligned with our own vision to support every individual to achieve their full potential and encourage and enable active participation for all in business, employment, learning and community life. As our values state, we celebrate diversity in every context and this philosophy is very much at the heart of everything we do. One in five of us is considered to be neurodiverse and what a wonderful thing. That is to say that one in five of us thinks differently to the others. Those people are almost always the creators amongst us, the inventors, the innovators, the thought-leaders, the problem solvers and the pioneers. Some of the most remarkable and fiercely talented people in history are believed to have been neurodiverse – from Simone Biles to Agatha Christie, and Elon Musk to Albert Einstein. Let’s hope that by working together we can continue to break down barriers and pave the way for the trailblazers of tomorrow.”

If you are thinking about starting your own business, The Women’s Organisation, together with this unique partnership, have the experience and expertise to make it a reality. Their teams and training opportunities can provide advice and support at every stage, from refining your idea to growing your brand.

Create your own t-shirt business Dreaming about creating your own business? We’ll teach you how to create your very own clothing, brand and more. Offering state of the art print machines, heat presses and training to help with setting up your very own online store. Although our core audience is 14-25 we will also be running evening and weekend sessions for all ages.

The biggest thanks of course goes to our lead funder - the amazing Steve Morgan Foundation