The UK-wide launch of Fixers – the national movement of young people fixing the future – was hosted by one of its biggest champions, Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine, on Tuesday 26th February.
Speaking at the House of Commons event, Mr Brine said he was immensely proud to underline his continued support to the unique Winchester-based project. With Fixers set to become a household name, he told the audience that Prime Minister David Cameron also supports the movement which will give tens of thousands of young people a voice.
"Fixers fire themselves up and they fire other people up," said Mr Brine. "It's absolutely brilliant and I wanted to help them ever since I first got to know Fixers when I was a prospective MP.
"Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, and the Prime Minister know about Fixers and are both supporters of Fixers."
He was joined at the event by Culture Secretary Maria Miller who said: "All too often we hear a very negative portrayal of young people in our country today. Fixers is helping young people to show that they are actually contributing enormously to solving some of the big problems our country faces."
Also in attendance at the launch event was the Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd. He said: "Fixers gives young people a voice and encourages them to be part of the solution. We can't afford to negatively stereotype our young people. They are probably the most important asset we have got in this country."
The award-winning Fixers project has already supported around 7,000 young people aged 16 to 25 across the UK to take action on their issue of choice. Now, thanks to a £7.2 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund, Fixers is expanding in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will work with a further 20,000 young people across over the next three years.
The Fixers' UK launch was also endorsed by celebrity supporters TV presenters Zoe Salmon and Ainsley Harriott.
"I think the whole concept of sharing a problem to fix a problem is really exciting," said Zoe Salmon, star of Blue Peter and Dancing on Ice. "The whole premise is so simple. People always say it's good to talk and that's essentially what this is. It can start with just one person being inspired to fix something, and then can spiral and help so many other people."
TV chef and presenter Ainsley added: "Fixers is a wonderful opportunity for young people to express themselves. The fact that it's expanding into Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, shows that people are paying attention."
The launch event was an opportunity for MPs, business leaders and voluntary sector representatives to get a glimpse of Fixers' work. Often drawing on their own personal experiences, how each Fixer tackles their chosen issue is up to them – as long as they benefit someone else. Each Fixer is supported to create the resources they need to make their chosen project a success, with creative help from media professionals.
Many Fixers chose to make a high-quality film or music video, hold an exhibition or event, or run a poster campaign or workshops to encourage change in their communities. Hosting the launch event, ITV news presenter Nina Hossain interviewed a number of Fixers about their projects and showcased their work. Designed to smash the stereotype that all young people in London are automatically involved in gang culture, the Fixers film Gang Satire was shown, which was made by Dante Powell-Farquharson, 22, from South Norwood, and his friend Mohamed Idle, 21, from Vauxhall.
"If you have a problem to fix, Fixers is the place to go," said Mohamed. "They give you a platform to express yourself and there's nothing better than that."
Discussing her powerful poster campaign to address the traditional stereotypes associated with self-harm, Natalie Brown, 17, from Leicester, also took to the stage, and Sam Thomas, from Brighton, talked about his Fixers campaign to raise awareness of eating disorders amongst men.
Sam, who has gone on to have a successful website and become an expert on eating disorders, said: "Fixers was a platform supported and enabled me to get my project off the ground.
"Fixers was really key in those early days and even now. Without Fixers there would be no charity called Men Get Eating Disorders Too."
"Fixers started in 2008 as just an idea... an idea given a voice by some 7,000 young people over the past five years," says Margo Horsley, Chief Executive of PSBT.
"They have reached thousands of people with their work, on a national stage as well as in and around where they live. They choose the full array of social and health issues facing society today and set about making their mark. Fixers are always courageous and their ideas can be challenging and often life-changing, not just for themselves. We are now on our way to building a nation of Fixers."
Rajay Naik, Big Lottery Fund UK Board Member, said the organisation was proud to be supporting Fixers. "The impact of Fixers is indisputable," he said. "The challenges Britain faces are tough but they are not intractable. I want the number of young people involved with Fixers to multiply, to domino, and to really unleash that impact across the country."
Pictured; Steve Brine joins Nick Hurd, Margo Horsley and Ainsley Harriot
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