Talks & Events

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Last Friday, I had the pleasure to be the MC at the Brighton Summit, held at the prestigious Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, at the University of Sussex. The theme for this year was HUMAN. My mission was to capture the hearts of around 400 delegates and move them smoothly through the excellent line-up of speakers, workshops and experiences, curated by the brilliant team from The Brighton Chamber of Commerce. 

If you haven’t been to the Summit before, I highly recommend it. It’s where collaborations and partnerships start and businesses are born. Back in 2017, I was a keynote speaker at the Summit and gave a talk about my experience running Liberty842, a London-based social media content company. My business life was thriving, but my home life was not. My daughter’s mental health was plummeting, and as a result, so was mine. 

So, at the end of my talk I pitched the idea of creating a new company – one that addresses the complexities of mental ill-health and puts young people in the driving seat of change. I counted 36 business cards from talented humans who wanted to collaborate. Make (Good) Trouble was born at The Brighton Summit.

The theme for the summit in 2017 was “Embracing the Unknown” – with a pandemic in the middle of our journey – we certainly did that. 5 years on and Make (Good) Trouble has worked with thousands of young people, parents and carers and professionals. We have secured long term partnerships with Public Health, Sussex Police, five local authorities, The NHS and most recently Save The Children.

So, it was on a nerve-wracking Friday morning, putting my makeup on in the dark, that I recited my lines or what I could remember of them, in preparation of holding court as MC for the day. I wanted to entertain, inform and cajole the audience into making good connections, ensuring they felt totally at ease whilst doing so. When asked what HUMAN means to me by one of the chamber organisers, I thought about our work in mental health. 

I decided to open with an adlib about having undiagnosed ADHD. Having ADHD is my superpower – it gave me the gusto to get on the stage and be vulnerable and funny (hopefully) at the same time. I asked the audience what would happen if ChatGPT had ADHD? Would it start writing, stop mid-sentence and start going on about something completely different? Marvellous!

The exemplary keynote speakers showed their humanity, through emotional, funny and uplifting stories sharing their journeys to success, including Jens Knoop, from Knoops (best hot chocolate I have ever tasted!), forensic scientist and author Professor Angela Gallop, CBE and finally Lord Simon Woolley, author, cross bench peer, Principal of Homerton College, Cambridge and one of the UK’s most high-profile campaigners for social justice, co-founder of Operation Black Vote. I was bowled over by Simon’s humanity as he held my hand on stage and thanked me, which took me by surprise and made my day! 

I learnt so much on Friday that will further inform our business going forward. I ate delicious food and made loads of connections which are still flooding into my inbox as I write. 

Do come to the Brighton Summit next year, where I’ll be on stage again as MC, making more good trouble.

On-stage selfie at the Brighton Summit 2023: Karen Dobres, Lord Simon Woolley and Daisy Cresswell. And Daisy introduces Simon onto the stage at the Brighton Summit – and is surprised (and delighted) as he holds her hand to thank her for her support.

Main image courtesy of The Brighton Chamber.

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This week we got together with Barclays to run a free ‘Understanding Finances’ workshop for local students. As we tucked in to pizzas, we discussed what young people need to know about money and finances before they start work, apprenticeships, or university. 

In the 2022-3 Young Persons’ Money Index, a report from the London Institute of Banking and Finance, found that 

  • 82% of young people want to learn more about money and finance in school
  • The cost of living crisis has led to 70% of young people feeling anxious about money, rising to 83% of 17-18 year-olds
  • 68% say they get most of their financial understanding and knowledge from their parents.

Managing money can be a challenge but it’s important for young people to develop good financial habits early on to avoid debt, build savings, and achieve your financial goals. We’ve gathered some general advice from around the web on what to start thinking about and where to get advice when getting to grips with your personal finances. 

If you’re a student, a good place to start is Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert website which has some excellent information and advice for students.

Barclays Life Skills is useful with tips on CV writing, managing money, help applying for jobs and more. 

Create a budget and stick to it

A budget will help you keep track of your income and expenses and ensure that you are spending within your means. Start by making a list of all your income sources, such as your salary, part-time job, or student loan. Next, list all your outgoings, including rent, bills, food, transport, entertainment, and other expenses. Once you’ve a clear picture of your finances, you can allocate your money to different categories and set spending limits for each. There are plenty of budgeting apps available that make budgeting really simple. When you can clearly see whether you’re on track, it’s a real incentive to continue. Take a look at this useful piece on budgeting apps on Money for the Masses website.  

Build an emergency fund

One of the most important financial goals you should have is to save for a rainy day. This is a savings account that you can tap into in case of unexpected expenses or emergencies, such as increased bills or repairs. Most advise that it’s a good idea to have at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses saved up in an emergency fund. To start building your emergency fund, you can set aside a certain percentage of your income every month and put it into a high-interest savings account. You can compare savings accounts at comparison sites such as Money Supermarket or Compare The Market.

Get professional advice

If you’re struggling with your finances or need help with specific financial goals, it’s always a good idea to seek professional advice. Try MoneyHelper (a free UK government-backed service) and charity Citizens Advice. 

A big thanks to the brilliant team at Barclays for an enlightening workshop.

The information provided in this blog post is for general educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, it’s important to note that everyone’s financial situation is unique, and you should always seek professional advice before making any decisions.

Students tuck into pizza at Make (Good) Trouble and Barclays Understanding Finances event
Students tuck into pizza at Make (Good) Trouble and Barclays’ free Understanding Finances workshop

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Kaia, 17, is one of the organisers of the Black Lives Matter protest that takes place in Brighton on 13 June 2020, in solidarity with the protesters in America and around the world over the death of George Floyd. Here she writes about why we’re marching and what is being done to safeguard participants.

This peaceful (but not silent) protest will commemorate the changes already marked in history, but also be the start of ticking the boxes left untouched.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5QP7DjdtX

This march has been assessed thoroughly by all the coordinators of the team, delving into legal matters and collaborating with others in order to gain a better idea of how to conduct this safely. From the compassion of many participants, we are stacking up on PPE and raising awareness of the imperative safety procedures on our Instagram account. We are in contact with the council, and developing our routes to ensure the safety of the protesters and we are also highlighting the importance of keeping social distance. This will be reiterated at the protest, as well as information about PPE, protesting rights and other matters that will ease any fears around the event.   

This movement will allow thousands to stand in solidarity with the victims in America to a corrupt, explicit and oppressive system. We walk alongside many others participating across the UK and across the globe who are instigating movements akin to ours, but we also can walk with our ancestors that fought for the foundations we have today. We all can then provide the foundations for those in the future, who may have to continue this legacy. United, we can shatter the ideology of this fight for equality being black and white; Black Lives Matter is a movement that is pro-black, not anti-white. On the 13th of June, a day symbolic of the 13th amendment, we can highlight the barriers maintaining this racial hierarchy and start to find solutions on a large scale and a small scale. Participants of all ages, all genders, all sexualities, all ethnicities, all religions can start to learn about the world and its very constructors, which were hidden from the education system and those in authority. By being black, you are the products of the history our ancestors did not choose, and it’s not just down to black people to fix it.   

If you have any other questions/queries, please feel free to contact us on our Instagram account (@brighton.blm)!  

Justice. Continue the legacy!  

Kaia, 17

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We’re holding a special event as part of the Spring Forward Festival, a month-long celebration of the role of women in digital culture and runs throughout March in parallel with Women’s History Month.

The speed of technological change has created a landscape that often makes little sense to today’s parents. How do teens understand technology? Has it rewired the teenage brain? Is the teenage experience in 2019 any tougher now than it was for previous generations?

Join teens, parents and experts for a frank and open discussion about the positive and negative aspects of being a teenage girl today – from the future of work to behavioural trends, body image and a digitally networked life.

Book your ticket today!

  • Brighton5 founder, Daisy Cresswell, talks about our mission and our work with teens 
  • Screening: Short film, Teens and tech
  • Analytics company, Station10, talk about algorithms and the future of our increasingly networked world 
  • Q&A: Teen and parent panel discuss the teenage brain and how we can arm the next generation with the resilience to succeed
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