Compass Collective
Wendy Solesbury MBE serves as the National Youth Engagement Manager at the British Red Cross, where responsibilities include creating an enabling environment for youth engagement and ensuring access to voluntary and paid opportunities. As Chair of the Board of Trustees for Compass Collective, Wendy supports arts initiatives aimed at helping young refugees and asylum seekers. Additionally, Wendy is a Global Goodwill Ambassador for Global Goodwill Ambassadors, a Trustee for the Bumba Foundation, a Management Committee Member for the National Safeguarding Youth Forum, and an Approved Youth Mental Health First Aider with Mental Health First Aid England. Wendy has extensive involvement in child protection training as a CEOP Ambassador and is recognized for contributions to youth development through various organizations. Wendy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences and has completed additional training at esteemed institutions.
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Compass Collective
Compass Collective assists refugees and young people seeking asylum to build resilience and integrate into the UK through creative English classes, theatre, music and film projects and arts-led professional development programmes. We find creative, dynamic ways to empower voices. We connect organisations and work in partnerships, collaborating with charities like the British Red Cross and arts organisations such as Shakespeare’s Globe to offer a platform for cultural sharing and celebration. We have developed our progression route for the young people, from our weekly online English classes which new arrivals can join straight away, through to skill building arts projects, and onto our six month ‘Next Steps’ professional development programme. By the end of their journey with us, we aim for young people to have developed their independence, be involved in further opportunities and become the bright leaders of tomorrow. We are youth-led working with professionals from refugee backgrounds. This brings us close to the needs of the young people and shapes all of our programmes. Productions: Young people have created films that have been shown at the Tate and nominated for awards. Their work has been covered by the BBC and Harpers Bazaar. They have released a music album. They have devised and performed at the Shakespeare's Globe and Southwark Playhouse. Charity Number: 1195811