Search Results

< Back Bryan Walsh Employability Manager Bryan is our Employability Manager, he has 30 + years experience working within the public, private and third sector with expertise in Careers Advice and Guidance, Employability, Mentoring and stakeholder and Employer Engagement. Bryan is a talented trainer with a special interest in capacity building for employers, professionals and organisations, additionally he is incredibly passionate about creating and implementing projects on a Local, Regional, National, European and International level. Further to this Bryan is a gifted musician and was nominated for an awarded for composing and performing a song to promote the Blood Donor Service, an excellent example of combining his passion and core values together. bryanwalsh@expandinghorizons.co.uk

< Back Janna, 26, Finland Merseyside Expanding Horizons offers opportunities to people from different background to get valuable working experiences abroad, by sending and hosting volunteers and interns. We want to share the stories of some of these brave people, who have moved to Liverpool from other countries. First, we will introduce to you our team member from the cold North. Which is your qualification degree and what encouraged you to candidate to MEH? Why did you choose MEH? ​ I’m studying journalism at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Finland. I wanted to do my internship abroad and the UK was one of the countries I wanted to come to, so when I saw MEH’s ad at erasmusintern.org it seemed like a good and an interesting opportunity to work with people from different backgrounds so I decided to apply. ​ Helping people, especially the youth, has always been an important topic for me. MEH is an organisation that fits my values and I’m happy to participate in work that aims to do good. ​ Why have you decided to get an internship abroad? ​ I did my exchange studies in the Netherlands and I wanted to continue living abroad, so doing my internship outside of my home country felt like it was a good option. Also I want to learn about different cultures and get experiences I wouldn’t get in Finland. Doing an internship felt like a safe way to start working abroad. Going abroad also gives you so much. It is scary, especially when you’re going alone. At times it is also hard, but in the end it is worth it. I think going abroad just gives you something so special, that you wouldn’t get if you just stayed in your own country. Learning from people from different cultures also widens your own perspective of things. ​ MEH works in an international context with different employees around the world: how do you find yourself in this context? ​ I think that is one of the things that makes working at MEH interesting. We all learn from each other and I like working in a multicultural environment. Sometimes the language barrier creates funny moments and I think I’m slowly learning Italian, because I hear it in the office everyday. But the international environment is definitely one of the best things about working with MEH. Which are the differences that you noticed most between English culture and your home country? ​ I haven’t had any major culture shocks yet. The biggest difference is probably the left-hand traffic and I’m still confused sometimes about which way I should look for cars when I’m crossing the road. In general, I feel like my culture is not that different from the English one, but there are a lot of small things that I find funny or weird here. In Liverpool people are really friendly, which I found a bit strange at first. Especially after the rude customer service I got used to in the Netherlands, it felt weird at first to be called love by the cashier. What is the thing you are missing most about your home country? ​ Of course family and friends, but I think I miss my dogs the most. What I miss about Finland, is a proper shower with warm water haha. What is the thing you like most and the thing you would like to change about Liverpool? ​ I like Liverpool in general a lot, people are friendly and I like how the city centre is built. It’s not too big or too small for a city, so I really enjoy living here. Even though I’m still having problems understanding the scouse accent. What I don’t like is that everything closes so early during the week, for example museums. Describe MEH in 3 words ​ Positive, helpful, open Do you think that your experience in MEH has changed something in your being? (professional and unprofessional point of view) ​ I’ve only been here for a month so it’s hard to say yet. I know that my English has improved already and if things continue to go on the way they have, I think I will be more confident professionally after this. Do you think that your experience in MEH will be useful in a future? (personal point of view) ​ I think it will be. I get to do a lot of different things and my English is also improving, which is always a good thing. I also think that you gain something from everything you do and each experience teaches you and helps you to grow as a person. Previous Next

< Back Mohamed, 25, France European Voluntary Service (EVS) is a great way to get valuable working experience abroad. Merseyside Expanding Horizons offers opportunities for people to participate in EVS, by sending and hosting volunteers. This article is part of the series, where we share the stories of these brave volunteers and interns, who have moved to Liverpool from other countries. Mohammed has enjoyed his stay and here are some of his thoughts on EVS and life in Liverpool. What made you apply to a European Voluntary Service (EVS) project? At the end of my studies, I wanted to discover the associative world and also to do something that I have never done before to entering the world of work. I wanted to leave my comfort zone and to learn something new. What is your degree and what encouraged you to candidate to MEH? Why did you choose MEH? I have a Master Degree (Master 2) in Management Accounting in 2018 at University Lille 1. I wanted to have another experience abroad after my first in Bulgaria and also to improve my personal, linguistic and social skills. As I said, to discover new horizons before to enter in the world of work. ADICE my sending organisation in France suggested me this EVS in Liverpool, so I took the opportunity and applied. MEH works in an international context with different employees around the world: how do you find yourself in this context? Working in an international context with different employees around the world is rewarding and helps you to learn and to think differently. I’ve felt comfortable since the beginning. The work environment is really friendly. Which are the differences that you noticed most between England culture and your home country? The differences are the accent of Liverpudlians (scouse accent) and also this intercultural environment is very enriching for me and the work we do here. Furthermore, it is lovely the Liverpudlians people are like us the Ch’tis people in France , especially me because I am from Dunkirk (the northern accent). What is the thing you are missing most about your home country? I think the most are the food and drinks that I cannot find here in the UK. What is the thing you like most and the thing you would like to change about Liverpool? Liverpool is known for its historic past (football, Beatles, language etc…) which is still alive and in the hearts of the people of Liverpudlians and also it's amazing to see how they are so proud and it is something I really like. I would like to change the weather and also change the opening hours for the public places like museums since they close too early. The most thing I would like change it is the driving in UK because for pedestrians, we do not know where to look. ​ Describe MEH in 3 words Intercultural, inclusion, non-formal learning. Do you think that your experience in MEH has changed something in your being? (Professional and unprofessional point of view) On professional point of a view, I’ve learned a new skills, this experience is very useful to me. I discovered a new working environmental and new methods of working. I have improved my English skills and it will be very advantageous afterwards. Do you think that your experience in MEH will be useful in a future? (Personal point of view) On personal point of view, this experience allowed me to meet a lot of people from different backgrounds and countries during my European Voluntary Service. It really helped me to be more confident, to increase my social network with people around the Europe and the world. Previous Next

< Back Leonardo, 26, Italy Merseyside Expanding Horizons offers opportunities to people from different background to get valuable working experiences abroad, by sending and hosting volunteers and interns. We want to share the stories of some of these brave people, who have moved to Liverpool from other countries. Which is your qualification degree and what encouraged you to candidate to MEH? Why did you choose MEH? I have a Masters Degree in Local Development, which was focused on project management and sustainable territorial development. I started in MEH first as an intern from January to May 2018. ​ I chose MEH because the work of the organisation is in line with my background and when I had the interview with Anna (transnational programme manager) I became immediately interested in MEH's projects and Anna's enthusiasm was contagious. I remember that when I finished the interview, I couldn't wait to start! I also wanted to improve my English. Why have you decided to get an internship abroad? The internship with MEH was not my first internship abroad. At the time of the interview I was in Brazil carrying out an internship in a prefecture. But I had always wanted to spend some time in an English speaking country, to really experience the language. MEH works in an international context with different employees around the world: how do you find yourself in this context? Which are the differences that you noticed most between English culture and your home country? ​ Ever since I was a child, my parents were always encouraging me to go abroad. I used to go in Germany for one week every summer and today I do feel very comfortable in an international environment. Besides, since I worked with international projects and my master was in international cooperation it's normal that I found myself in this environment and I really enjoy it. The difference that I noticed is that British people tend to be more "direct" than Italians. Work and personal lives are generally more separated than in Italy. What is the thing that are you missing most about your home country? ​ I am missing my family, including my cat, and the food: in particular the "parmigiana" (a bake with tomato, aubergine and mozzarella). I also miss the contact with the nature that I can't find here, because Liverpool is pretty industrial. What is the thing that you like most and the thing that you would like to change about Liverpool? ​ The thing that I like most is the fact that it is a very cultural, there are a lot of opportunities and things to do. It is also very international. I would like to change the weather, although the last summer has been warm..ish. Describe MEH in 3 words Motherly, inclusive and a bit crazy ​ MEH works in an international context with different employees around the world: how do you find yourself in this context? Which are the differences that you noticed most between English culture and your home country? ​ Both from a personal and a professional point of view, this has been one of the best international experiences I have made in my life, because I learnt a lot, I had the opportunity to take responsibilities and develop my own projects. From a personal point of view, I have learned to be more open minded and to do things differently, for example to understand the different point of views of different people. Do you think that your experience in MEH will be useful in a future? (personal point of view) 100%! I have learnt a lot, and most importantly, I experienced different ways of working, and has helped me to develop my own. Moreover, I developed important professional and personal relationships, that I am sure will last a lifetime. Previous Next

< Back Nicole Belle EU coordinator & Trainer Nicole is our EU Coordinator and Trainer at Merseyside Expanding Horizons, based in Bootle, UK. With a Masters in international management and background in Anthropology, Nicole is well travelled and loves adventure. She advocates for inclusive and accessible outdoor activities and has a keen interest in social entrepreneurship, digital skills, leadership development, and the future of work. ​ ​

< Back Anja Marojević Project Manager Assistant Anja Marojević from Montenegro, and is currently a Master's student at the University of Parma. Anja enjoys travelling to different countries, seeing how other people live, think, and eat. She usually says that when you travel to a new country, the food will tell you a lot about its culture. So, you can imagine, her favourite thing to do is trying new food and experiencing new cultures! Her ambition has always been to work with a group of people that are eager to assist those in need and to support local communities, she says: “Volunteering at MEH has provided me the opportunity to do so, as well as work in a multicultural setting that inspires me to do my best. I'm excited to see what the future holds"! anjamarojevic@expandinghorizons.co.uk

< Back Lynn Conley Community Outreach ​

< Back The volunteering experience of Ellie in Croatia. We would like to share with you the experience of Ellie, a young person who through Merseyside Expanding Horizons took part in the EVS program. Ellie volunteered in Mreža Udruga Zagor ( Zabok, Croatia) for a period of eight months. The EVS project was called " Two Volunteers for the Local Community” and it was funded by the Erasmus + program. To best present Ellie, we bring you her article, which we report below: “Welcome to my post! I am Ellie, from the United Kingdom and I am 19 years old. This is my first time ever travelling outside of the UK so it is a very big step for me to take. I decided to participate in this organisation because I knew it would be a great opportunity to take up and it was something I could not miss. I had been in college for 3 years and I felt as though I needed a chance. I was put in touch with EVS/Erasmus through Expanding Horizons and from there it was pretty easy to get involved. Throughout college, I studied History, Politics, Law and English Literature. Since completing these subjects I still have a keen interest in them outside of an academic branch. I enjoy going to political lectures back home in Liverpool/Manchester. Also, I read quite often and have always loved reading. I will continue to discuss more things about myself in order to get to know more! My hobbies include watching films and going to gigs. I am very into cinema art; I watch at least one film a day because I am interested in casts and directors. My favourite films are Interstellar, No Country for Old Men, Lady Bird and Disobedience. Also, I watch foreign films like Dogtooth, La Haine, Roma and The Handmaiden. My favourite actors/actresses are: Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, James Franco, Timothée Chalamet, Rachel Weisz, Léa Seydoux and Dakota Johnson. Some Directors I like are: Christopher Nolan, Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch and Gia Coppola. Some gigs I have been to recently are: Gus Dapperton, Rainy Miller, Brad Stank, Hers and Mac Demarco. I have a varied taste in music as I like to listen to Grunge and old Rock quite often as well as alternative pop artists. For example: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Nirvana, Hole, Alice in Chains, Led Zeppelin and Kiss. I used to listen to rap and hip hop a lot but that is only occasional for me now” Finally, after reading about my interests, I think what I am doing now in Zabok, Croatia, is a great experience and I am ready to take on new challenges and hopefully teach people some things we do in the UK or even bond over new things! “ Previous Next

< Back Garden Legal Garden Legal was started up by a group of young lawyers who identified a deficit in the knowledge of basic Human Rights in the wider Zambian population but more particularly among children. As a group of people passionate about our profession and patriotic for our Country we are aggrieved by the wide gap of ignorance blocking the free flow of the Rule of Law in our Country. Having been law students ourselves, we identified another gap; the lack of practical experience for Law students to use their acquired knowledge in CV enhancing activities. We decided to do something about it and came up with a program that fills both gaps. Garden Legal tackles passive injustice stunting the full actualisation of the Rule of Law in Zambia caused by ignorance of basic Human Rights among children and the general population at large, which may also be simultaneously contributed by their; • Fear that no one will hear and their lack of confidence in the Judicial system; and • The need for Students to engage in CV enhancing activities. Visit us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ive-m-gardner/ #legal #lawyers #law #linkedin #people #humanrights #cv #students Project Gallery Previous Next

< Back ED Sewing Machine Repairs Since the pandemic, many of us have had a chance to reignite our passion for hobbies and crafts. It has awakened us to our need to reduce consumerism and waste and learn ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. We are proud to introduce Liverpool's Sewing-Machine Repairer, Emma Dwyer - entrepreneur, engineer and mother. One of the more lasting changes from the Pandemic is the shift from fast fashion to upcycling and crafting. “Repairing and reusing is something I’ve always been passionate about” said Emma Dwyer, a Sewing Machine Engineer specialising in overlockers with her own sewing-machine workshop in Wavertree, Merseyside. As the cost of living crisis has alerted people to the need to sustain and save, Emma and other small business owners have been sharing the many benefits of networking and sourcing locally and sustainably. She has seen a shift in people’s attitudes, and has helped her own business to survive and thrive! Gendered stereotypes are hopefully ideas of the past, and fashion and textiles have been taken up in larger numbers by male crafters as the whole industry has grown through the pandemic. This may be due to the increase in awareness of the importance of ‘Self Care,’ and understanding that crafting can have a positive effect on wellbeing. Sadly, anxiety and depression rates rose by 25% during the Pandemic according to the WHO. Sewing is known to help relieve stress, among many other benefits, and people around the world are realising that this has not merely been a relief of boredom like Zoom Quizzes and baking banana bread, but a lifeline. People are also more conscious of the environment and a desire to continue lockdown passions will also have played a factor in sewing being taken up by younger demographics. Repairing and ‘Upcycling’ is great for the environment , while fast fashion is demonstrably bad for oceans, workers and agriculture. The growing popularity of the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee has gone hand in hand with the rise in popularity of a ‘make do and mend’ attitude. Along with inflation and popularity, sewing machine costs are also rising and predicted to inflate further according to a Market Research Report highlighted in “Market Watch.” Emma helps solve this issue by offering affordable rates for her repairs to expensive items vital to crafting, and helps people keep their passions and projects going. Emma is also an excellent case study in how to balance work and life: One of the biggest issues in the gender wage gap is the issue of childcare, and Emma is a proud mother who runs her own business. The wage gap is remarkably highest among those with a degree, but her skill is no longer taught in colleges and is therefore in high demand. She has balanced her life and work as an entrepreneur, and will look to take on a staff member in the coming months as her demand grows. One of the ways to shatter glass ceilings is for women to build new proverbial ceilings through creating businesses. While Emma doesn’t build ceilings, she does own her own sewing machine repair company and has decades of experience with this skill and passion. Enterprise is something which hasn’t come naturally, but rather she grew into it through learning her trade and gaining clients. Emma has clients all over the city of Liverpool, and wants to be “THE Merseyside Sewing-Machine Repairer.” She has had clients from Lancashire, Manchester, Birmingham and Wales and enquiries across the country, and is looking forward to seeing her business expand! If you would like to learn how we’re supporting those in Merseyside in Enterprise, contact us at: train@expandinghorizons.co.uk Visit our website: https://www.liverpoolsewingmachineservicing.com/ Project Gallery Previous Next

< Back ALM Interiors Everyone has those rooms in their home that they try to tackle and just can’t quite seem to get right. They might be a difficult shape, have an oddly placed window or are just too big to fill in a cohesive way. ALM Interiors was first born as a passion project for the founder, Abbi McKeown, from her love of beautiful interiors. It has since evolved into a love of problem solving for her clients all over the North West. Merseyside Expanding Horizons met her a few months ago and have been so proud to see her use her skill and focus to engage with feedback and challenges. She's a tenacious entrepreneur who has built her business from scratch and earned contracts through excellent networking and proving herself. Get in touch with Abbi to discuss any spaces that sound familiar and see how she can help: www.alminterior.co.uk Project Gallery Previous Next