I’m walking the talk to help end youth unemployment and champion the role retail plays in providing those entry level opportunities
On Sunday 11th October I’m walking and talking 20 miles along the River Thames, from Hampton Court to Buckingham Palace, to raise money for The King's Trust.
At a time when 900,000 young people in the UK are out of work – enough to form the UK’s third largest city - The King’s Trust are committed to ending youth unemployment - and retail is the most important gateway to work for such young people.
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A donation of £100 could cover a young person’s travel costs for their first month of employment, bridging the gap until they receive their first payslip.
In the past 50 years, The King's Trust has helped over 1.4m young people. As The Trust celebrates its 50th anniversary, please give generously to ensure their work can continue for at least another 50 years. Thank you!
My Achievements
Updated profile photo
Shared fundraising page
Made a self-donation
Reached 50% of fundraising goal
Reached 100% of fundraising goal
Challenge complete!
My Updates
Creating the win win for employers and for the young
Monday 6th Jul
With one in five people starting their careers in retail, it is Britain’s biggest pathway into work. Around 780,000 under-25s already work in our industry, while retail and its supply chain account for almost a quarter of all youth employment in the UK. Few sectors are better placed to help people take their first steps into work and build lasting careers.
The industry’s role in helping people into employment has never mattered more. Yet it’s ability to provide those opportunities is coming under increasing pressure.
That is hardly surprising.In just 14 months, changes to employer National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage have added £6.5 billion to retailers’ employment costs. Global instability and pressure on household finances have only made the trading environment more uncertain.
This matters because retail is where millions of careers begin. It is where a part time job combined with study becomes a first promotion opportunity, where customer service becomes leadership, and where a first pay packet becomes the foundation of a lifelong career. Those opportunities only exist if businesses have the confidence to keep creating them and young people are ready to step into these roles.
Every day, our industry equips millions of people with the skills, confidence and experience that underpin successful careers. The flexibility retail offers is one of its greatest strengths. More than half of retail jobs are part-time, with people actively choosing those hours because they fit around study, caring responsibilities or other commitments. For many, that flexibility is what makes a first job possible and what allows them to develop new skills, take on greater responsibility and build a career.
Businesses need the confidence to recruit, train and invest in people. That means government ensuring the overall policy environment supports growth rather than adding unnecessary cost and complexity. Making sure the Employment Rights Act targets the unscrupulous, not the responsible businesses that create jobs must be part of that plan.
And it means great charities like the Kings Trust supporting both the young and employers to ensure young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing the greatest adversity build the confidence and skills to live, learn and earn.
Retail has long been one of Britain’s greatest engines of opportunity. With right government actions and the help of organisations like the King’s Trust it can remain the place where lasting careers begin.
We cannot afford to close that door.
Thank you to my Sponsors
£125
Helen Dickinson
£125
Julian @ Quercus
£125
Rachel Y
Well done Helen- what a lovely walk and a great cause! enjoy!
£125
Louise & Simon
Have fun Helen! Hope the weather gods are kind to you
£100
Sarah And David
Should be a great walk. Enjoy it!
£100
Karen And Team Retail Bulletin
Sending loads of support from team TRB c
£100
Chris
Good luck, Hels. Enjoy doing good….
£100
Vicky & Dewi
Best of luck for the walk Helen and we look forward to seeing you at your 60th Birthday Party, Vicky & Dewi xx
£100
Simon Smith
Hi Helen Great cause to support our younger generation getting their start in life. Simon
£100
Alistair Mcgeorge
£100
Richard Freeman
Good luck Helen - excellent cause!
£100
Phyllis Dickinson
Good luck!
£100
Ian Percival
£75
Alex Ely
A great cause Helen, enjoy the walk.
£75
Bill Bowman
Good on you
£75
Amar Treon
Enjoy the day Helen and super cause 👏
£60
Matt & Nicola Emerson
Best of luck! Matt & Nicola
£60
Lisa And Paul
Great cause. Well done Helen.
£60
Anonymous
Your amazing!
£50
Fernando Elizalde
Walk fast, Helen, walk fast!
£50
Michael & Ali
£50
Mark Price
Thank you for doing this Helen.
£50
Anonymous
Go smash this ! Have fun ! Jane&Mac xx
£50
Corinna X
£50
Cath Thorpe
Well done
£50
Mike Stagg
Thanks Helen for your support and leadership
£50
Nicola & Simon
Good luck Helen!
£50
Julie Hare
A great cause Helen, enjoy the walk
£50
Libby
Good luck Helen and enjoy! Lx
£50
Martin Makepeace
Walk the walk!
£40
Phil Dckinson
£30
Kiwi Dickinson
Enjoy the walk.
£30
Tom Ironside
Well done Helen!
£30
Fraser Tant
Congrats boss!
£30
Darren Sanderson-williams
Brilliant work Helen
£30
Leanne Cahill
Great cause Helen! 👏🏼
£30
Tim Curtis
Great cause, Helen, well worth a very long walk!
£30
Richard Lewis
Great work Helen. Good luck with the walk.
£25
Jo Monk
£25
Tracey Skingle
I knew you’d smash it, Helen - especially with your energy. Well done you!
£20
Pauline K
Great cause. Good luck
£20
Mark B
Good luck Helen!
£20
Gav
£20
Ian Taylor
Well done Helen!
£10
David Lonsdale
Good luck Helen, its a heck of a long way!
£10
Devina Sankhla
Go Helen, amazing challenge! Wishing you all the best
£10
