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JCI Bradford has forged ahead with a turnaround success story that should be inspirational to many.

In 2009 JCI Bradford should have been celebrating 50 years of developing people in the city but instead it was on the verge of folding.

With a serious chunk of enthusiasm and leadership by Philip Cavalier-Lumley, JCI Bradford is now riding the waves of success in many ways.  A higher profile and re-established reputation in Bradford, a growing interest by local people wanting to know more membership and JCI Bradford's strong relationships within its JCI national and international organisation.

With a great board of directors to focus on the direction of JCI Bradford and more new members joining who want to get involved and really make a difference to their lives, careers and communities.

Just last year, Philip won the JCI Yorkshire regional public speaking competition and JCI UK National competition and will be competing in Germany in June this year for the European title. JCI Bradford last had this kind of success in the 1970's and 80's.

You would not recognise the organisation today which has weekly events arranged for the full year ahead, including:

Networking or Net failing - 19 March 2012
PR training - 26 March 2012
Debating training - 16 April 2012
Commercial skills - 23 April 2012
World Malaria event - 25 April 2012
Tweet or Twit - 9 May 2012
World clean up - 13 May 2012
New Members night - 11 June 2012
Meet the Honey Beez up close and personal - 20 June 2012

This years council team includes:

President: Phil Cavalier-Lumley
Finance Director: Kirsty Haley
Community Director: Michelle Pemberton
Marketing Director: Oliver Denton

For more information about what JCI Bradford is up click here to visit their website.

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JCI TOYP 2010 Honouree, Sabirul Islam, still only 21, has launched his second book titled ‘Young Entrepreneur World.'

Young Entrepreneur World contains interviews with 25 of the world's most influential young entrepreneurs, youth activists and changemakers with a vision to create positive change, all of whom are under the age of 25! Their interviews deliver empowering messages on a personal, business and political scale. The book shares their success stories and how they got to where they are today. It also challenges the unwanted statement of whether today's youth are a lost generation.

Never before has the voice of youth been as powerful and as meaningful as it is today. From witnessing the London Riots all the way to the Arab Spring. The future rests up on young people coming together, making a statement and creating a better way of life for themselves. Rather than solely rely on decisions made by a generation of leaders whose policies and ideologies do not fully reflect the true need of today's youth.

The Young Entrepreneur World provides a global insight as to the beliefs of today's youth, we stand united when we say "NO to oppression, YES to freedom, No to corruption and bad policy and YES to transparency and opportunity.
The leaders profiled come from all over the world. Europe, the US, Asia and Australia and started their journeys from their teenage years. This book will challenge and inspire young people across the world to break out of their comfort zone and create a successful and fulfilling future for themselves.

The book has already grasped the African Market, with the book already selling over 10,000 copies in its first week of launch in Africa since February 15th 2012.

With an incredible year ahead, where Sabirul is on a journey to Inspire 1 Million young people, he will be touring Swaziland, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, The Maldives and South Africa all before the summer of 2012.

Sabirul says; "2012 will by far be the most empowering year of my life. The past 6 or 7 years have been incredible and now my focus lies up on transforming the lives of youth globally, and sharing with them the belief that today's youth do in fact have what it takes to be successful."

The book is now available in all book stores across the UK and you can buy it online on Amazon.

Sabirul Islam, 21: A teen-trepreneur from the age of just 14, a global motivational speaker having spoken at over 600 events worldwide and author of the bestselling books The World at Your Feet and Young Entrepreneur World.

With Sabirul becoming a junior trader at 16 and his inspiring books selling over 60,000 copies to date. Sabirul launched his Teen-Trepreneur board game at 18, to educate young people about business, which has sold to over 550 schools in the UK and in 14 countries worldwide.

By 20, Sabirul set up Teen-Speakers; a speaker's bureau consisting of 38 of the world's most successful and influential young people, all under 25 striving to empower youth worldwide with a message that ‘Generation Y' has what it takes to be successful.

Now aged 21, Sabirul's vision to inspire young people has expanded to a global scale, having set up the Inspire1Million Campaign with a vision to Inspire one Million people in 20 countries within 12 months. So far Sabirul has delivered the campaign across Europe, The Maldives, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Japan with further tours lined up in 2012 across Africa, Asia and South America.

Sabirul's passion is to inspire millions of young people around the world that everyone has the abilities to be extraordinary.

Website: www.sabirulislam.com 

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Have you ever been to Romania? I hadn't before last Wednesday, but this is exactly where I have spent the best part of the last week, attending the JCI European Presidents Meeting (EPM) in the city of Sibiu, Romania.

The EPM takes place at the beginning of each year and brings together national presidents and deputies along with the JCI World President and his 'senior team' that support the national organisations all across Europe! The main purpose of this meeting is to share information, new initiatives, build relations and identify solutions to our challenges through a mix of interactive workshops and presentations.

I was very fortunate to be invited to attend the EPM with National President Solveig Malvik in order to present the JCI UK Marketing Academy and the JCI Sheffield mobile app, for which a proposal has been submitted by the local chamber to Head Quarters and which is currently being considered for international roll out.By coincidence, I happened to bump into President Bertolt on the final leg of the long journey to Sibiu so had the opportunity to start my work early! Upon arrival to Sibiu we were greeted by Mihaela Liliana Stroe, JCI Romania National President 2011, who worked tirelessly throughout the week to make sure everyone had a special experience!

In true JCI style, the days were extremely intense with presentations and interactive workshops taking place from early until late! Equally, in true JCI style the local team ensured that all of the delegates had a memorable experience by laying on activities such as Romanian culture night featuring local cuisine and entertainment and a trip to the theatre to see a spectacular show about Romanian history - a truly memorable evening!

Personally, to have the opportunity to work alongside other national presidents from across Europe as well as the JCI Europe 'management team' gave me a valuable and unique insight into how our organisation operates at this national/European level. I took part in numerous workshops including a PR and Media Masterclass, knowledge share workshops, strategic forums and even an international CSR conference! I also had the opportunity to present JCI UK projects to 70 JCI leaders from across Europe, including the world president!! A really fantastic opportunity!

One of the stand out activities however has to be the few hours we spent volunteering at a Romanian orphanage - we really did put our passion into action! Nearly 60 of us grabbed mops, brooms, cloths and shovels to give a little TLC to this centre - even President Bertolt led by example by cleaning out the kitchens with representatives from Cyprus, Turkey, Italy and Ireland!

Another 'typical' JCI experience was having the opportunity to catch up with some old friends whilst also making some great new ones! For me, this is always a highlight of any international JCI adventure and this time didn't disappoint! Needless to say I will look forward to seeing everyone again at the European Conference in Braunschweig in June!

All that remains to be said is how completely honoured and privileged I was to represent JCI UK at the EPM but above all, I was extremely proud! JCI UK has a superb reputation at an international level and it's great to know that with all of the activity that is planned for this year, across all the chambers, we can look forward to taking this to the next level in 2012!

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JCI members are active in many ways. JCI Senator Kate Atkin's husband Stuart is walking around England for charity. Read how you can support him. 

My husband, Stuart Jessup, is taking a year out of teaching and is walking 2,500 miles round England for charity, starting on 9th October. We are linking the walk to the "Time to Change" campaign that aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and we are also fundraising for two charities engaged in this task, SANE and Anxiety UK. More details can be found on the walk's website www.walkingontheedge.org.uk Stuart has personal insight into the stigma and issues surround mental health as he has suffered from chronic depression for much of his life.

Covering about 15 miles a day, six days a week, along with Poppy our springer spaniel, we expect the walk to take between seven or eight months. During this time Stuart's home will be a campervan, which he will return to at the end of each day by public transport and drive on to the start of the next section the following morning; I have a week a month scheduled to join him to be both moral support and driver.

An invitation:

Join us if you can in London on 9th October, as we will walk across Tower Bridge to start the walk. I am in the process of organizing a "meet point" so do let me know if you plan to come and I'll keep you updated.

It is also possible to sponsor Stuart at http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/walkingontheedge or make a pledge to sponsor Stuart by the mile

There are other ways to help, including...

• Talking about mental health. The aim of the Time to Change campaign is to make it as easy to talk about mental health problems as it is to talk about physical illnesses. The taboos around admitting to suffering from a mental health condition can isolate the sufferer and make the condition much worse than it needs to be. However one in four of us will suffer from a mental illness at some point in our lives (mainly depression and anxiety disorders) and at any moment one in six people are suffering. So just talking openly with others about depression, anxiety and other mental health problems is step towards alleviating this suffering. We are both happy to give talks based on our personal experiences of mental health issues.
• Help publicise the walk. If you would like to tell colleagues, friends and family about the walk that would be great. There is a blog on the website, and Stuart is also on Twitter (@englandwalk) and there's a Facebook page (just search for "Stuart Jessup"). I am coordinating PR for the walk and would grateful for any media contacts around the country and we are open to opportunities to give talks about the walk to local groups. Our very first press article, in the Cambridge First newspaper appeared back in July, and there's a copy on the website.

Thank you for your support.

kate@walkingontheedge.org.uk and Stuart@walkingontheedge.org.uk
www.walkingontheedge.org.uk

http://twitter.com/englandwalk

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Are you losing out on career development opportunities in 2012?

Do you want...

• Flexibility of commitment?
• A trusted national network of contacts?
• Reasons to contact and build network with people you otherwise would not feel comfortable approaching?
• Opportunity to build European and international level contacts?
• Proven track record on your CV from having run a national voluntary project?

Then consider taking on a project or programme role on JCI UK National level in 2012!

What is a JCI UK National Project?
A national project can be run on a number of levels and with various time commitments. It can even be run on the side of a role on a local board.

TOYP Ten Outstanding Young Person award is a good example on the flexibility of a national project:

-TOYP can be run as we have run it the last two years - we distribute information to local chambers and the press, collect applications, forward applications and check with HQ how it's going. 
-OR-
-TOYP can be run as a full-out national award programme deserving front page press; setting up a jury of high profile judges, gala dinner, national press, awards...

Get in touch with me on solveig.malvik@jciuk.org.uk if you want to get involved!

Yours,

Solveig
JCI UK Deputy National President 2011

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JCI prides itself on developing the leaders of tomorrow so whey not get involved in some of the best leadership training JCI has to offer this autumn!

JCI South Regional Leadership Academy- Reading, 23-25 September

This intensive weekend residential is an ideal opportunity to challenge yourself to take action to develop your personal leadership potential in the workplace and in JCI.

Come and learn the essential ingredients to becoming the leader you want to be:

• Learn why emotional intelligence is needed in leadership
• How to communicate as a leader and how to build support around your ideas and projects,
• What are your strengths as a leader and how can you make the most of them
• Learn how to build and utilise networks and resources and how they can support your development as a leader.

You will you will be given an 'Apprentice style-task' on the Saturday afternoon where you will have to combine everything you have learnt so far about leadership to succeed.

Are you planning to take on an active leadership role in JCI next year? Learn more about JCI leadership Ladder and start planning your way to the top.

To book visit the booking site!

JCI North Regional Discover JCI/Local Leaders Weekend- Boston, 15-16 October

The weekend if designed to be fun, interactive and informative irrespective of your JCI experience.  The emphasis is on improving leadership skills combined with a focus on equipping young local leaders with the basic knowledge of the JCI UK processes and procedures to ensure that we can run the organisation more effectively.

Find out about individual roles and responsibilities within the organisation, how to have a successful JCI year, increasing and retaining membership and much more.

To book visit the events' booking site!

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JCI United Kingdom was honoured to receive JCI World President Kentaro Harada and his assistant Kazuo Murata in Manchester and Belfast the week of the 25th of July.

President Kentaro is welcomed in Manchester by members of the JCI UK National Board and JCI UK National President Allison Cowell

The visit started with a casual discussion with members of JCI UK National Board, where President Allison Cowell and the National Board had the opportunity to present the membership growth this year, successes and issues in JCI UK, and President Kentaro was able to share what is going on on the global level.

In Manchester the President and National Board were generously hosted by Mint Hotel.

President Harada and JCI UK President Cowell have an informal chat

After the meeting with national board members, the President moved to the top floor of the hotel where JCI Manchester had organised an informal evening with speeches by JCI Manchester President Deborah Rainford, TOYP Nominee Ruth Ibegbuna and President Kentaro.

TOYP nominee Ruth Ibegbuna from RECLAIM talks about her work with RECLAIM.

After learning about the amazing work RECLAIM is doing in Manchester, JCI President Kentaro Harada shared with us his story and passion for JCI.

JCI President Kentaro Harada speaks to JCI UK and JCI Manchester on his background and passion in JCI

To wrap up the evening, JCI UK President Allison Cowell and JCI UK Community Director Gemma Fletcher handed over a certificate to President Harada with the amount of money raised by JCI UK for the JCI and UN campaign Nothing But Nets. A whooping $17,300 has been collected so far across the UK and made a solid impression on President Harada. 

JCI UK President Allison Cowell and JCI UK Community Director Gemma Fletcher hand over a certificate of $17,300 to JCI President Harada.

JCI Manchester members were numerous at the evening and all had an opportunity to meet and talk to President Harada in an informal setting. JCI Manchester was able to showcase some of their events with well made exhibition boards around the room.

Exhibition by JCI Manchester Community team

The next morning a business breakfast was organised at the JMW Sollicitors in Manchester in the honour of President Harada. JMW Sollicitors LLP are important partners of JCI Manchester. The breakfast was hosted by Senior Partner Joy Kingsley, past President of JCI Manchester.

In addition to speeches by President Harada and Joy Kingsley, the participants heard from Peter Heginbotham, OBE, Honorary Consul to Japan, Keith Arrowsmith from JMW and Clive Memmott from Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

President Kentaro with Allison Cowell, Gemma Fletcher and Solveig Malvik from JCI UK National Board and Deborah Rainford from JCI Manchester

After departing Manchester, the President traveled on by plane to Belfast.

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While the National President is in meetings and at receptions representing JCI United Kingdom at European Conference and members go to training sessions, key note speakers and parties, what does a deputy national president do?

Well - quite a lot it turns out.

First of all my job is to deputize for and help the National President. In my case that was very easy because NP Allison is very self-reliant. Other than being able to help her carry stuff now and then and lend her my UK to Europe electrical adapter, Alli managed pretty well on her own.

I tried to spend as much time as I could with the delegation. While the day for the NP is busy from morning to evening with General Assemblies and receptions for lunch and dinner all the way up to the evening parties, I could sneak off for dinner and spend it with the JCI UK members, which was a lot of fun.

I spent most of my days with NP Alli in General Assemblies. General Assemblies are where the National Presidents from all the National Organisations in Europe (at World Congress its the National Organisations from the whole world) come together to vote on issues for JCI. Its quite a bit like the UN with countries negotiating and voting. Like all organisations with human beings JCI also has its politics, but the JCI politics is including not excluding. The JCI politics makes sure all organisations get their say and opportunites to have candidates and host conferences, not just the large National Organisations which is what would happen if all that decided is voting strenght on member numbers.

As deputy presidents in Europe we get deputies training. This means that all the deputies from Europe come together and learn about JCI, leadership and get to know each other as a team. The first training is at the European Presidents Meeting (normally in February), the second is a European Conference and the third and last is at the World Congress (this year in Brussels, 1-5 November).

In Tarragona we had a whole day with two excellent JCI Trainers and VPs (colleagues of JCI UK IPP Lesley Young who is also Vice President in Europe this year), Esther Ter-Beek and Ismail Haznedar. We talked about how the planning for our plan of action is going, about leadership styles and communication and had open table discussions about how to establish new chambers, how to really make a difference with JCI and other topics we wanted to discuss. We also attended General Assembly when the candidates for JCI office in 2012 was announced as these are the people we will be working with.

We also got to meet and hear from the candidate for JCI World President, Bertolt Daems from the Netherlands. I was very impressed by Bertolt and look forward to working with him should he be elected (he is currently the only candidate). I believe Bertolt will get things done which is something I respect deeply.

So that is what a deputy does, or more or less. If you are interested in a role on National Board and maybe one day as Deputy National President, contact me!

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Sabirul Islam, Global JCI TOYP Honouree from 2010, just returned from the Maldives having spent 7 amazing nights in the country and reaching out to more than half the Maldives population.

Sabirul thanks JCI Maldives President Thanie Saeed who worked really hard with her team to make it a possibility.

In the first night, Sabirul spoke at the Guitar Idol final, live on TV (similar to Britains Got Talent) and reached out to more than 100,000 people.

In addition, Sabirul spoke at 8 schools and a few other events, and visited 7 Islands in the Maldives.

Sabirul says:

"The experience was amazing, the response was huge and my inbox is now filled with young Maldivians stating words such as 'You've changed my life.!"

To the right you can see a poster which was designed and distributed to every school, college and university in the Maldives. Hundreds of students now have copies of Sabirul books and dvds which they were able to download to get their entrepreneurial journey up and running.

Sabirul says "Words cannot describe the experience or the response from young people. It was beyond extraordinary. I will be visiting the Maldives again in July, when the JCI Sri Lanka tour takes place.

A big thank you to JCI Maldives and JCI UK for introducing me to such an incredible organisation."

You can read more about Sabirul's Inspire1Million tour here.

Read an interview with Sabirul here.

Learn more about TOYP here.

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This year, the Junior Chamber International (JCI) - an international leadership-training organisation - again seeks young professionals who have excelled in their respective fields.

If you know an outstanding young person (that is between 18 and 40) then now is your chance to honour them by nominating them for a JCI TOYP award.

The UK branch of JCI have announced details of this years 'Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World' (TOYP) awards which aim to recognise and award the outstanding achievements of UK's youth. 

The public can nominate those who have excelled in a number of areas including humanitarian or voluntary service, academic leadership, scientific development, contribution to children or human rights, medical innovation and cultural achievement.

"JCI's mission is to create positive change and we want to showcase the UK's young outstanding people and how they are making a difference in our society, says Allison Cowell, JCI UK National President. Last year we were very proud to have two winners from the UK, and we know there are more phenomenal people we can put forward this year."

2010 JCI UK nominated Sabirul Islam (20) London, and Emily Cummins (23), Bradford, who both were awarded at the JCI World Congress in Osaka, Japan.

Sabrul Islam is touring the world in 2011 thanks to his new connections within JCI. Sabirul says: "I would like to say a huge 'Thank You' to everyone involved in JCI worldwide, for really opening my eyes to what can actually be achieved and the scale in which it can be delivered. Without JCI's support, I feel this project would not have been possible to take off."

The winners will be entered into the International TOYP Programme and will have the opportunity to represent the UK at the world finals in Brussels in November. 

For a copy of the nomination form please email debbie.tills@jciuk.org.uk

The closing date for receipt of entry forms to JCI UK is Friday 6 May at 5pm.

Read more about JCI TOYP at JCI UK's website: www.jciuk.org.uk/jci-toyp

Read the report from JCI TOYP 2010: www.jciuk.org.uk/blog/2010/11/jci-uk-toyp-winners-awarded-at-the-world-congress-in-osaka/

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