MACHO follow up + Smart Works ‘Big Give Christmas Challenge’

Following on from the fantastic MACHO lunch we hosted on Tuesday 26th September, I wanted to follow up by sending the summary of the Top 10 ways to be more MACHO (below) and also to appeal for your support for the Smart Works ‘Big Give Christmas Challenge’. They are just £10k short of the £50k matched funding available and the clock is ticking with the campaign running to 5th December.

TOP 10 WAYS TO BE MORE MACHO!

1.  Encourage a flexible approach to diversity awareness and accept that mistakes may happen
2. Get to know your mentee, understand them and listen more than you talk
3. It is important that the smallest voice in the room is heard as loud as the loudest
4. Reverse Mentoring – ideally with people who are very different to you
5. Be an active (rather than passive) advocate for high performing women
6. If you observe inappropriate behaviour don’t be afraid to call it out as the easiest thing to do is to ignore it
7. Take care with extra-curricular commitments, remember your priorities and flex accordingly!
8. Treat HOME as the “best” client/customer relationship – trust, good communications and wanting to deliver
9. Be Brave!
10. Advocate for someone who doesn’t have an advocate

Since ‘Be more MACHO’ our charity partner for the event, Smart Works Greater Manchester, has been super busy. In November the charity hosted its first Partnership Breakfast welcoming many of our members, including myself, into its city centre service which has now been open for 6 months. Guests heard from Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, Sarah Welsh, CEO Retail at N.Brown, and Andy Burnham who encouraged attendees to support the charity’s Big Give Christmas fund raising challenge.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham: “What Smart Works are doing to support women in unemployment here in Greater Manchester is so important. Helping people gain the confidence and the practical skills to get good jobs not only empowers them, but also paves the way for a workforce that is properly representative of the diverse experiences, abilities, and perspectives that exist right across our city-region”. “It’s great to see the support that’s already come in from the business community for their Big Give campaign, and I would encourage everyone to get involved and help Smart Works make a real difference this Christmas.”

Smart Works is a UK charity that exists to give women the confidence they need to reach their full potential, secure employment and change the trajectory of their lives.

The Big Give is a fantastic opportunity to donate to Smart Works as your any financial donation made is match funded meaning your contribution is doubled, and double the donation means double the impact on making a difference to the employment chances of unemployed women living in our city region. But you need to be quick ! To qualify, donations are required to be made by via the Smart Works Greater Manchester donation page between midday Tuesday 28 November and stay open until midday Tuesday 5 December.
https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a056900002RXtzQAAT

If you’re interested and would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Victoria Cronquist, Head of Smart Works GM on 0161 974 0669 or [email protected]