EY Foundation’s Post

Leadership and volunteering are about making others better as a result of your presence and ensuring that impact lasts in your absence.   If you're driven to make a difference, #Volunteer #Education #Healthcare #Leadership why not start in your community? This video addresses my daily question: "Why are you doing this? Throughout my life, I empathized with those facing adversity. As I matured, I realized I could take action to assist them. At each stage, I offered aid in whatever capacity possible, gradually alleviating that initial sense of helplessness. _As a student, I volunteered at an orphanage. _As a working adult, I donated money. _As a mother, I contributed breast milk to those in need. _Witnessing a caregiver's dire living conditions spurred me to build her a home. During personal struggles, including family tragedies and mental health challenges, I recognized the need for support. Despite my leadership background, I was adrift, unable to make decisions or find joy in life. Attempts to mask my turmoil for the sake of social interactions proved futile; people either ignored or dismissed my struggles. Yet, my dedication to uplifting others persisted. Why do I volunteer? Because it's my calling. I advocate for women, children, and education. Regardless of race or circumstance, everyone deserves access to education, autonomy, and freedom. This video symbolizes my battle against despair and commitment to steering disadvantaged youth away from the streets towards education. They are the future. #4Future #Classforfree #4Future.us

As it is #youthemployment week I thought I would write a brief blog post reminding us of the issues young people, who come from traditionally low social mobility, face when navigating education and employment. The only way to overcome these hurdles is to ensure that education, business and charities like The Talent Tap work together to address the issues highlighted. We must also continue to advocate to the Government to keep working on policy and regional investment. #socialmobility #equity #inequality #education #industry #charity

Our current measures of economic need in the United States focus only on acute deprivation, leaving gaps in our understanding of the true cost of #EconomicSecurity across the country. We need a measure that accounts for the full costs of modern essentials like housing, childcare, transportation, prescriptions and school supplies. And that means looking beyond the most basic of needs to understand what it truly costs to be financially stable in America today. The National True Cost of Living Coalition — a broad-based group of policy, philanthropic, and community leaders — is working to develop a new, national #EconomicSecurity measure designed to inform program and policy decisions related to economic need at all levels of government.

Having served in government for a number of years, it is clear how important federal metrics are to every level of policymaking. Yet, these very metrics continue to betray the promise of economic security for millions of American. By focusing exclusively on acute economic deprivation, government measures (and therefore government policies) are not doing their part to advance wellbeing, agency, and security for all. We're doing our part by calling for a new measure that promotes actual economic security and moves us beyond deprivation. Take a look and join us! #measurewhatmatters

I cannot stress enough how much we need to measure economic stress through a more modern lens. The federal poverty level (FPL) for 2024 is as follows-- Individuals: $15,060; Family of 2: $20,440; Family of 3: $25,820; and Family of 4: $31,200. This does not account for modern costs. The median annual salary in the US, which is often less skewed by outlying numbers, is $59,384. You will find different stats depending on the source, but roughly between 50% to 70% of all Americans report they are living paycheck-to-paycheck, and with the cost of rent/housing this isn't hard to imagine. A 2023 Forbes Advisor survey shows that nearly 70% of respondents either identified as living paycheck to paycheck (40%) or—even more concerning—reported that their income doesn’t even cover their standard expenses (29%). But lets break down the averages for a second. As stated, the median income is $59,384, without considering tax variation and federal tax, the gross take home pay at a standard bi-weekly payout is about $2,200. - We know that to afford/qualify for a mortgage for the average home (sits just above $400,000) you need to make above $100,000 and have a zero debt-to-income ratio. So this doesn't come close to cutting it. No homeownership for the average American. - The median rent price in the US is overall $2,100, so right away the median salary registers this cost as moderate to severe rent burden (30% to 50 % of income) depending on the state. So, regardless of the fact that there may be affordable options depending on location, roommate, spouse, etc, there is a major mismatch in cost of living shown here which wasn't the case for past generations (ex: median income in 1980 was 21k and rent was 5.7% of that median income, now it’s nearly 40% of median income). - Taken directly from the Census.gov site: "A brief drawing of available data across 47 states show child care prices for a single child ranged from $4,810 a year for school-age home-based care in small counties to $15,417 for infant center-based care in very large counties. When adjusted for inflation, this equals between $5,357 and $17,171 in 2022 dollars." - The average American household spends around $475 a month for groceries. I am not a data expert, but colloquially if we consider these averages together per month--$2000 for rent, $900 for 1 child in child care (the average of the high and low cost is around $11k annually, which breaks down to ~900 each month), and $475 for groceries, we're at a total of $3,375. This leaves the median income earner with $1,000 and I have not taken out taxes or even factored in insurance, car payments, etc. We need real change in this country and a true measure of cost is a great first step. The median income must be able to cover all needs at bare minimum or our country is on a dangerous pathway of unsustainability for everyone (it already is, but we need to talk about it more).

This is a crucial time to impact the amount of funding available for competitive bid to provide transportation for older adults and people with disabilities in our region. I encourage agencies to provide feedback on making this an equitable and sustainable process for all applicants. #sandiego #transportation #equity #competitiveprocess #seniors #disability #mobility

How are UK communities feeling about the year ahead? That’s what our annual #CommunityResearchIndex seeks to find out. From improving safety on the streets, to supporting people with the rising cost of living, we asked over 8,000 UK adults what their community priorities and ambitions are for 2024, and into the future. We heard: 2024 will be another year where communities pull together to tackle shared challenges and to support each other. A continued sense of community spirit and belonging, and a desire to be involved (including volunteering) are welcome bright spots that set the tone for the year ahead. Local people know what their community needs and have the passion, energy and know-how to make it happen. This year they will have even more grassroots funding support as we have doubled the amount and term of our small grants programme, #NationalLottery Awards for All. It’s a key part of our drive to use our funding to strengthen society and improve lives across the UK in 2024 and beyond. Learn more. 👇 https://ow.ly/qwrW50Qp9Ff

30% of young people in the UK aged 14 - 24 live in poverty 🤯 Yes you read that correctly, It's a staggering statistic that pierces the soul and demands attention. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, released in April, paint a bleak picture of rising unemployment and economic inactivity among young people. The work we do at RISE UP via our fantastic mentors is not only about securing an outcome for a young person but It is about ensuring it is sustainable. I still vividly remember the early days of my career, when simply getting to my apprenticeship was a monumental challenge because I didn't get paid until the end of the month. Now, imagine the added burden for a young person from a low-income household who has secured a job but must wait until their first pay day to afford travel or even lunch. It's a barrier that many overlook, but it's one that we at #RISEUP refuse to ignore. That's why we've established The Opportunity Fund, a lifeline for those overlooked costs that can make or break a young person's journey to stability. Our mission is more than just securing outcomes; it's about ensuring sustainability and systemic change. On June 21st, we're not just embarking on a physical challenge; we're ascending new heights of commitment. Our North team will conquer Snowdon, while the South team will trek the Jurassic landscape, all while donning dinosaur costumes or their favourite Disney characters. 🦖🦕 But this isn't just about the adventure; it's about making a tangible impact. Every step we take is a testament to our dedication to combatting youth unemployment and uplifting those in need. Even a small donation of £5 can provide lunch for one of the disadvantaged young people we support. Please, join us in our mission to make a real difference. Click the link below to donate and spread the word. https://lnkd.in/eHjDW57g Together, we can transform lives and build a brighter future for our next generation of talent. 

As the UK welcomes a new government into office following yesterday’s #GeneralElection - let's reflect on what their first 100 days might look like, particularly regarding education policies.  The Labour Party's manifesto included several key promises on education and youth employment. Here are our thoughts on how we think they can be delivered. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞: Why draw the line at 18-21? We want to see support extended for 16-24-year-olds: more young people covered means fewer left behind.  𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Labour wants kids to talk the talk. To achieve this, we say: make high-quality oracy education the new norm by embedding it into the national curriculum. We support the Oracy Education Commission, hosted by our charity partner Voice 21 UK, which shapes evidence-based recommendations for a systemic shift towards oracy education for every child. 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: it's great to see Labour's commitments towards higher education opportunities for all, but more details please? Maintenance grants or clear information on fees, grants and enrollment could help individuals make better-informed decisions about their future. In addition to these policies, we call for the new government to 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 so it’s available to young people who are behind in English and maths, and to build the 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 so children get the right school support at the right time to improve attendance and 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.  With a clear vision and strong commitment to these goals, we believe the UK can significantly improve support for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. We look forward to working constructively with the new government to ensure their promises result in real, positive and effective changes. Impetus transforms the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by ensuring they get the right support to succeed in school, work and life. For more information about Impetus and our work, visit: https://lnkd.in/eiv6Qmui #YouthSupport #Education 

Giving USA numbers are in--and there's not a lot to celebrate. Despite one of the STRONGEST economies in years, in 2023: 📉 Giving DROPPED by 2.1%. 📉 The number of donors DROPPED 3.4%. 📉 Giving as a percentage of GDP DROPPED from 2.3% in 2021 to 2.1%. 📉 Corporate giving DROPPED 1.1%. The Generosity Crisis is real, folks, and we have serious work to do. Here are 5 takeaways from this year's GIVING USA that will help us all reverse these trends. 🔗 https://hubs.la/Q02DhKBb0