Leon Burke (aka LCB) is a spoken word artist from Birmingham who impressed Evolve Director John Bishop so much at the inaugural TedxBrum event last year that John tracked him down and invited Leon to lead a series of literacy workshops as part of Evolve’s XLR8 Programme this summer.

Although Leon’s performance at the TedxBrum event was aimed at the slightly older audience, John knew that Leon could play an important role in inspiring our next generation to fall in love with the written and spoken word.  John comments:

“…What Leon does is clever, unique, funny and captures the imagination and enthusiasm of children in schools today. His blend of wit, lyrical poetry and heartfelt emotion is pure genius. Leon is a shining example of what Evolve is all about: children discovering their talents and using them as anchors to help them lead more rewarding and fulfilling lives…”

The impact that Leon had during the XLR8 courses in the summer was not just on the pupils. Evolve Health Mentor staff were so impressed with Leon’s involvement that they campaigned for him to attend the Evolve Staff National Conference at the end of August. It was at this forum where Leon could deliver his much anticipated TedxBrum piece – Frapuccino. The occasion was even more special for those in attendance because one of the invited guests was the very subject of the Frapuccino story, Leon’s girlfriend Lauren.

Leon is very proud to be an Evolve Ambassador and is looking forward to helping more children develop their literacy skills whilst kick starting their creativity and imagination, adding:

“…Evolve is an outstanding company that does exactly what it says in the name: It helps young people to evolve into something new and discover paths that they may not necessarily have thought about. The main thing that I like about Evolve is how the directors are so hands on within the organisation which is great for the Health Mentors as well as the thousands of young people whose lives they are committed to improving…”

Leon and the Evolve Directors are hard at work developing plans for the 2013 XLR8 Programme and Leon is currently being signed up by schools for impactful and cutting edge literacy workshops.

The appointment of Evolve’s latest ambassador sends a clear and positive message to all young people who are uncertain about which direction to take with their lives post compulsory education.  Leon has shown that with hard work, dedication and talent you can devise your own career plan that centres around what you belief in and are passionate about.

Evolve: A Social Impact Company works with schools, community groups, parents and children to provide innovative solutions that address some of the key challenges facing society today including inactivity and obesity, low aspirations, poor educational attainment and youth unemployment.

Evolve’s latest creation is called “XLR8 Camps” and supports the Department for Education’s Summer School Programme by providing enjoyable, engaging and educational activities for children during the school holiday periods.  The programme has been designed to give children the chance to discover their talent and be inspired to transform their physical, creative and problem solving skills, something that Danny can himself relate to, saying:

“…With DJ’ing and producing records, I have found activities that I am passionate about and remain focussed at becoming the best that I can be.  Children need to be inspired to engage in as many different experiences as possible so that they too can find something that will fulfil and enrich their lives – like DJ’ing and producing continue to do for me…”

Danny also knows the role that Evolve can play in shaping the lives of our next generation.  He was once part of the Evolve team in Blackpool where he was helping to introduce their programmes to local schools whilst he was studying at Edge Hill University.  Danny also says:

“…Evolve has devised another unique and innovative programme in XLR8 Camps and I only wish that I was young enough to experience one for myself this summer…”

Evolve director, John Bishop, is delighted that Danny has got behind the XLR8 programme and that he has taken time out from his extremely hectic schedule to use his rapidly growing celebrity status to make a difference to the lives of many vulnerable children:

“…Danny is the perfect role model for all children attending XLR8 Camps.  He has shown exactly how much can be achieved when talent and hard work meet opportunity.  Danny’s support for Evolve and XLR8 will help to inspire children around the country to find and develop their own talents and, in doing so, give them the confidence and attitude needed to succeed in life…”

The first ever XLR8 Camp commenced on Monday 23^rd July 2012 at the Priory Witham Academy in Lincoln with similar events scheduled in Birmingham, Bradford and Rotherham later this summer with schools in London, Sheffield, Nottingham and Cardiff already lined up for 2013/14.

The XLR8 camps are the first of their kind and give Year 6 pupils the opportunity to spend time at the secondary school they will be attending in September. This allows them to get to grips with the new environment as well as meet their new classmates and staff. The XLR8 Camps are made up of three different activity sessions; Talent, Vitality and Enterprise. This means children will be able to develop their physical, creative and problem solving skills. Evolve, with the help of the Project HE:RO Health Mentors, are running the XLR8 Transition Camps in Lincoln, Yorkshire and Birmingham so there are plenty of children who are going to be able to get involved!

The XLR8 camps exist as a result of the £50 million summer schools fund provided by the UK government in order to help the most disadvantaged pupils. The government believes that transitional summer camps are necessary due to the fact that many pupils can struggle to make the jump to secondary education. The Department for Education add that ‘moving to a larger school and having to tackle a more challenging curriculum can be daunting for some pupils and they can suffer as a consequence. This results in a dip in their performance, which can persist throughout their time at school’. Therefore, summer transition camps are clearly very much needed and are worthwhile and rewarding schemes, which is why Evolve has chosen to get involved.

I think that XLR8 is an excellent idea and I particularly like the fact that it is not just physical activity but that there are also talent and enterprise activities for children to get involved with. I’m really looking forward to visiting the Birmingham XLR8 Camp and get involved there.