APRIL 2023 THE VOICE
|
31
Midlands News Kameese is the golden girl again!
TOP OF HER PROFESSION: Entrepreneur Kameese Davis whose pitch for investment for her hair care products business won her the Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up contest at the Venturefest WM 2023 Festival of Innovation
A MIDLANDS entrepreneur has once again struck investment gold by scooping top prize at the Venturefest WM Festival of Innovation in winning this year’s Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up competition. In front of an audience of more than 500 entrepreneurs, innovators and investors, Kameese Davis clinched £3,000 in prize money and a package of bespoke business support for her business, Sandwellbased Nylah Hair, Heritage and Science, which specialises in providing quality products for African and curly hair care. The feat follows Kameese’s 2022 triumph when she landed £50,000 of investment funds for her range of vegan plant-based hair care products during a televised appearance on Dragons’ Den. “Winning the Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up means so much to me,” she said. “It’s given me a massive confidence boost in terms of the product and brand be-
ing an attractive proposition for investors. It also gave me the opportunity to speak and engage directly with people who are interested in helping the brand maximise its full potential.” Over the past eight years, Minerva Birmingham Pitch Up – which is run by the Centre for Growth at Aston University, BizzInn at the University of Birmingham and Minerva at the University of Warwick Science Park – has put scores of entrepreneurs directly in front of investors and brought over £40m of investments to the region’s small businesses. The day also offered inspiration for would-be entrepreneurs in the roll-out of the region’s Plan for Growth and forthcoming Trailblazing Devolution Deal with national government, in a bid to ramp up regional development. The event also featured keynote speaker Megan Goodwin, who spearheaded the digital development of worldwide TV blockbuster Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Youth mentors helping to win Wellbeing battle
A
PAIR OF youth mentors from a sports charity have been acknowledged for the positive differences they are making to the mental health and wellbeing of pupils at a Black Country school. The successes of Jevaughni Robinson and Daniel McCalla, from Sport4Life at Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury, is part of a £1.1m Emotional Wellbeing Programme launched by Sandwell Council to address the long-held concerns about the mental health of local youth. Since last autumn, students at Bristnall Hall Academy have been taking part in a sport mentoring programme run by the duo using sporting activities to help improve their confidence,
resilience and emotional wellbeing. Councillor Simon Hackett, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, said of their work after visiting the Academy: “I am overwhelmed hearing from the young people involved and the positive impact these mentoring sessions have made to them personally. “It is clear the students really look up to Jevaughni and Daniel, who are really making a difference to the young people they mentor. “This programme is having such a positive impact on our children and young people and I am pleased to announce our investment into the programme will continue in 2023.” Lindsay Mason, Assistant
PLAYING A KEY ROLE: Sport4Life’s Daniel McCalla and Jevaughni Robinson with Sandwell Council’s Simon Hackett Principal at Bristnall Hall Academy added: “Being part of the council’s Emotional Wellbeing Programme has meant a lot to
our young people who have gained a considerable amount from the sessions, in terms of both their physical and emo-
tional wellbeing. Thank you to mentors from Sport4Life who have made a positive impact on the young people involved in these sessions.” McCalla commented: “I’m proud to be involved in a project like Sandwell’s Emotional Wellbeing Programme. “Seeing the young people come out of their shells and talk is really important, I don’t do this job for the money. I do it because I want to make a difference. I want to see young people being aspirational and know that with a little bit of help, they all can achieve.” More than 2,000 children and young people with mental health concerns have received support since the programme was first launched in July
2021. The programme has seen Sandwell Council team up with partners in the voluntary sector for the delivery of targeted help and support for young people with mental health concerns. There have been 13 organisations funded to complete programmes providing a broad range of support for young people aged five to 18, including one-to-one and group work, mentoring and counselling. Buoyed by a further £500,000 investment and support from the voluntary sector, education and health partners, work will continue on rolling the Emotional Wellbeing Programme, out to more children and young people across the West Midlands borough.
If you have a story for the East or West Midlands, call/text Veron Graham on 07954 572 988, email veronpgraham@gmail.com, or find him on Facebook or LinkedIn
