Pitching to the World.

Guinness World Records colouring book featuring Big Dave.

The picture above is a good metaphor of how it feels to pitch to the world. Whatever the benefits & opportunities offered, even the best ideas are often glanced over with a cursory frown. If presented over the phone or in an unimaginative setting on a grey January Monday morning when it's raining, we're really up against it. Luckily the enthusiasm Dave has to exert his muscles & help influence the young people of the world has not diminished since his anti bullying campaign began & the colourful effect he has on the young people can be seen in dozens of photos like this:

"It's my crusade," he told me a long time ago. "I'm in constant unrelenting competition with myself." His passion to make a difference is something that has always impressed me, from the day when I first saw the picture of him pulling Concorde to this morning when he called me with the latest update. It's easy to see why he's achieved so much.

There are over 180 testimonials if anyone cares to download the file & many more could be added, enough to make a replica telephone directory for Dave to tear in half on the days like today when we're waiting for the due process of multiple bureaucracies to catch up with his enthusiasm.

Dave keeps himself in shape, ready to pull a bus this afternoon if needed. With the weekend looming the offices are winding down & on Monday morning at 9am people might look at our paperwork again. If the sun is shining, maybe they'll see our vision in colour, rather than as a black & white line drawing:

If you would like Dave to make an anti bullying presentation to your school or group please email:

 or

Councillors, Members of Parliament & local authority officials who would like to lend their support are also encouraged to get in touch. 

Funding the roadshow.

The roadshow has to be funded. In the past the Community Safety Partnerships between Police, Schools, Local & national government made funds available to carry out the work. Many of these initiatives don't exist anymore. The work continues, but funding has to be sourced. Those reading this could help by voting for the grants where available.

We'll keep everyone updated here on what we're doing, where we're going & if there are other funds you can help us get by the click of approval from the links we provide. 

Thanks in hope of your assistance.

Vote here for our bid to the Galaxy Hot Chocolate fund:

https://www.galaxyhotchocolate.com/fund/profiles/angel-of-strength

Big Centre TV Interview

Last week Big Centre TV interviewed Dave Gauder about his work with young people & his anti bullying campaign. If you missed it, watch here:

Big Dave explains the SLAM H concept.

This new concept for Birmingham and its young people will target all aspects of the community, male and female, and has the potential to improve the lives of many marginalised people.  As I have already demonstrated and proven with the award winning SLAMH Programme, out of 800 projects SLAMH made it through to the final stage of the National Lottery Awards and was in the last six.  A great achievement as SLAMH has only been going a very short time. 

What is SLAMH?  Ever wished you had a great role model?  Ever wished you had someone to aspire to be?  I know it is massively important for young people to see and be around those who present themselves as positive role models, that is why I devised SLAMH which has already changed several peoples lives for the good.  Now my work has the opportunity to proceed to another level and deliver many more programmes for young people, not just on the physical side, but on the  general wellbeing to deliver programmes such as life skills, money management, time banking, volunteering, plus access to educational programmes.  I will be partnering with colleges etc on these programmes.

The time banking would work on a ‘learn to earn’ basis ie the opportunity to develop a time bank against the hours worked and those hours set aside for access to educational and physical training opportunities and so increase the social capital of those who find themselves in a position to give something back to the community.  As part of their pathway there may be a reward of recognition to the individuals progress, ie a Princess Diane Award, which would have a positive impact on their CV’s and also a positive impact on reducing re-offending rates as individuals learn new skills and coping strategies that enable them to sustain re-integration back into the community. 

The SLAMH programme represents an opportunity to create a positive community based facility which seeks to provide a life altering experience for young people as I have already achieved with SLAMH.  It will be a positive addition to the community, creating jobs or signposting onto further education.  This is a unique and ambitious project and is based on the vision and experience of Big Dave Gauder who has a proven track record in producing positive outcomes for young people.  At its heart is a desire to change young peoples lives in a positive and sustainable way.  This project does not fit traditional or contemporary models working with hard to reach young people, as it is saying that we need to bring the best of what we are and get the best from who young people really are.

And remember, SLAMH reaches the parts the Xbox doesn’t or the can of lager or the line of coke etc, etc.

Big Dave Gauder