Just because he can!

As has been mentioned in previous blogs and on social media Stevie is in London this week. The purpose of his trip is to visit a centre of excellence for young people with a Director of one of our working partners.

The visit has been extremely successful and Stevie has been left inspired and in awe of the achievements being made. These centres provide hands-on vocational training for young people who may otherwise never be able to achieve their dreams.

The first site visit was yesterday in Brixton and Stevie, Andrew Craig (KDS Director of Training) and Gerry Croall, Business Development Director for A4e arrived ahead of schedule 45 minutes early. They received great hospitality and were greeted at the door and invited in, as they sat waiting to be shown round Stevie shouted to the girl at reception “how does it feel to be the most important person in this building?”

The girl laughed. Stevie explained that he wasn’t joking and that she was the most important person as she gets to greet every single person that comes through the doors, she is the person that makes a first impression and gets to see everything from a 360 degree angle. The girl said “I hadn’t thought of it that way”.

As the conversation went on the girl explained that tomorrow would be her last day. She has come through the Vox centre and has been successful in gaining a qualification; however she will now be leaving the centre with no positive destination.

At this point Stevie went to work with her, asking about what she is good at and what she wants to do and they were able to come up with a plan!

Stevie told the girl “you have 2 weeks”, “what do you mean?” she asked “you have 2 weeks and then I will call you, I want you to create 3 opportunities for yourself and if you have been unable to find employment by then, I will support you”.

This offer left everyone astounded!!

As the day went on Stevie met every single person in the centre and spent time getting to know their stories, this was an inspirational experience.

As today started, the girl from the centre hasn’t been far from Stevie’s mind so he took the decision to make a telephone call to her. He spoke with her about how it’s okay to be sad that something fantastic is coming to an end but how she should also be looking to the future and getting excited about what has yet to come – something that he will support her with.

Stevie often gets asked what it is that makes him go above and beyond what is expected; the reply is always the same “BECAUSE I CAN”!

This is quite a legacy, supporting thousands of people into employment and especially considering that just 7 years ago Stevie was unemployed himself.
 

12 Comments

Posted by rob clemence EEO on 28 April 2011

I''ll bet this young lady has taken this offer for support with a pinch of salt. I can guarantee that she will receive the one-to-one support SK has offered if she is unsuccessful securing employment off the back of the three opportunities SK has challenged her to create. This is a true example of going above and beyond - as we have noted previously, people are always undervaluing their jobs / responsibilities until they take a step back and see the bigger picture...then they realise that they are in fact playing a more impotant role in the scheme of things.

Posted by Katie on 28 April 2011

Because I can! This has become the war cry of the Aberdeen Academy since Stevie''s visit with them!! Stevie''s legacy about helping people into employment, taking the time to get to know people and find out their stories should be inspiration to many people! Looking forward to hearing more about the visit! K

Posted by Katie on 28 April 2011

Because I can! This has become the war cry of the Aberdeen Academy since Stevie''s visit with them!! Stevie''s legacy about helping people into employment, taking the time to get to know people and find out their stories should be inspiration to many people! Looking forward to hearing more about the visit! K

Posted by Steven Hunter on 28 April 2011

Really like this blog wonderful partnership working. Stevie Kidd always looking for opportunities to help people. Well done. Steven Hunter Training Manager

Posted by Andrew Craig on 28 April 2011

It a great experience getting to visit this great example of alternative education and learning. It was clearly apparent from all the learners that they were getting a lot from their time at the centre. Time to put the plan in motion for the first Scottish VOX centre with KDS as a partner!!! Bring it on!!

Posted by Sarahjane Sarkhosh on 28 April 2011

Stevie always goes that extra mile when working with people, which is part of makes him so unique!

Posted by Michelle Lockard on 28 April 2011

As soon as I saw the title of this blog Because I Can I instantly thought of Stevie and believe it or not has been a theme we have held in our Renfrewshire Care Academy also. This has definitely supported my Care Academy and they will take this forward whatever path they take in life.

Posted by Tommy on 28 April 2011

It''s Thursday 14:19 and i have just returned from a day with our youth academy, this has been a fantastic day....right from either a vision or an idea that S.K has and then it is put into fruition the journey is so satisfying not just for the person directly involved, but also for the likes of myself and our team. this is a fantastic journey a roller coaster that you just don''t want to get off.....So to the girl at reception jump on board.

Posted by Lorraine Hart on 28 April 2011

I love getting the opportunity to write these blogs on Stevie''s behalf. Stories like this one help us to remember the amazing work that is being done by Stevie all over the country and in fact the globe! Well done Stevie and an amazing opportunity for the person involved.

Posted by Alison Gilbert on 28 April 2011

The wonder of Stevie and what he creates,it''s not a one off. This is the man! The team within the group witness events daily and see the changes. Now this young lady will reap the benefit from a chance meeting. Stevie is due back in the office any moment- Cant wait to hear the dtails from this visit. Ali KDS Trainer

Posted by Edmund on 28 April 2011

Another day, another life touched and changed for the better. Well done bothto Stevie and the young lady.

Posted by Deccy on 28 April 2011

Everywhere he goes, he always has a positive effect on the people around him, even if they weren''t suspecting help. Well done.

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