It was about 3.30 in the afternoon last week when I got a call from a USA based radio show called ‘The Story’. They told me they broadcast interesting interviews with interesting people which I had no reason to doubt until the point they asked if my story could be one they told.
I’ve received heaps of emails from people who are looking for work. Some I’ve tried to help but most I’ve not been able to.
We’ve all been there. Scouring our ambitions to find what we want to do so we can send off a billion unanswered applications until the sun sets and the process starts all over again once the nightmares of diminishing bank accounts and weighty expectations no longer justifies staying asleep.
For most, or even all, I can’t change this. But I was hoping that if we spent the day together, we might be able to learn some new skills, put a smile on people’s faces and essentially find alternative perspectives on finding work aside from the conventional.
With an open invite, yesterday I hosted the first #Funemployment in London’s west end. It went like this.
For every 5 emails I get from people asking for help, I receive 1 asking if they can help me help others. Which makes me smile.
So I’ve been wondering how best to use this goodwill and eagerness. How to connect strangers to one another through the act of doing good deeds. Sure enough, whilst doing my make up this morning I had an idea which I want to propose to you now; #TheHelpChain.
Sat at home looking in the proverbial diary earlier in the week I noticed I had an empty space under Friday. Worried that this would leave me with nothing to do other than the numerous insurance renewal type tasks I’ve been proudly putting off for an age, I took to twitter to ask who needs my help specifically on this day, Friday.
Although eventually there was going to be a request that sat itself right up close to my heart, it still felt coincidental that perhaps my most admired charity got in touch and asked me for some help.
Anthony Nolan are a charity that saves the lives of those with blood cancer through blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants. Everything from the story behind it’s genesis (the charity was set up by Anthony’s mother, Shirley in the 1970’s, with the aim of creating a bone marrow register) to it’s modern day success (there are over 400,000 potential donors on the register) is, to me, an absolute shining star in the often unaccountable charitable sector. They even have Alan Partridge talking you through the donating process in their brilliant little animated videos….
It’s easy to pass through life unattached to most of it. This, in part, is what made me want to offer my time out for free for the next 6 months, knowing full well that some of what I was missing out on could potentially offer itself back to me in the form of a request for help. When Cherry, the Communications Assistant here at Heart n Soul, tweeted to see if I would like to help out for the day, all I needed was a nudge toward google to realise this is exactly the kind of charity and, as it’s turned out throughout today, group of people it would be an absolute pleasure to spend some time with.
It’s been easy to see that deep set within much of what I’ve been asked to do and indeed most of my responses, has been a mutual need for this thing called trust. Trust is normally built. For two strangers, who’ve only ‘met’ through an inherently distrusting medium, the Internet, to expect trustworthiness in one another from the get go is on the face of it a big ask.
When Vince, an aspiring stage hypnotist, asked me if I could help him practice by being his hypnotised guinea pig for a day, what was it that made me think “Of course, come into my home dear stranger and dive into my mind”?
Darren McGill is a young man who lost contact with his Father, Dave McGill, some 17 years ago.
We know he has been and may still be living in North London and may have been spotted working in the Car Trade in areas such as Camden, Islington and Tottenham. He has an English accent and is bound to look a few years older than the picture above as he is now 60 years old. Above is the most recent picture of him.
Having been asked to help Darren find his Father, I believe we can all work together to give this Father and Son the best chance of being re-united.
Dear The Free Help Guy,
I’ve recently graduated and decided to spend the months of freedom I have before I decide what I want to do with my life by travelling. In April, I’ll be heading to Paris to visit relatives. On a whim, I also booked train tickets to London for a day trip. Being my first time in London, alone and with only 10 hours (and a limited budget) I honestly have no idea what I should see or do. It would be awesome if you could suggest some things I could see/do/eat and help me make this trip unique and memorable. Thanks.
Yours Sincerely,
Gillian
On my second trip to NYC I learnt that on my first I’d successfully seen each and every thing that represented absolutely nothing about the city at all. Like many a tourist, it was far too easy to see only the pricey facade angled my way and to miss the actual identity, heart and soul of a truly amazing place.
After reading this email a few weeks back, I was keen for Gillian to avoid the same fate. Being on here own too, I wondered how I could pull in a load of people to keep her company throughout her trip to London.
I’d heard about these guys from a few people and immediately fell in love with the idea. GoodGym combine getting fit with doing good deeds. So after a 3 day Easter weekend of hunter gathering chocolate eggs from the clutches of younger relatives, last night seemed like a good idea to go find out what they’re up to.
