A famously funny Hull-born star is the latest to back a trailblazing initiative that supports enterprising young people in Hull.
The John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, which works in partnership with Hull City Council, offer grants of up to £1,000 for the region’s young people to finance business ideas. It has gained support from educationalists, politicians and business leaders from across the world.
And now comedian and actress Lucy Beaumont has backed the initiative after becoming a vice-president for the organisation.
Beaumont said: “I think it’s amazing what the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank has done over the years, in particularly raising funds to support enterprising young people who were excluded from financial support during Covid-19 and giving them access to experienced mentors.
“I am looking forward to working with my fellow vice presidents to support young people in Hull, my home city, particularly in the arts.”
Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “It is very pleasing that so many people with a wide range of experience have volunteered their support for enterprising young people in Hull.
If you are aged 25 and under, live in Hull and had no significant financial support for your business during #COVID19 – contact charles.cracknell@hullcc.gov.uk and you might be entitled to a small #ReSrartGrant from @JCYEB_Hull pic.twitter.com/L3X7j3V9fM
— JCYEB (@JCYEB_Hull) June 9, 2021
“This support from people from across the world shows how they have faith in what Hull is doing to support young entrepreneurs through the various partnerships and networks that Hull City Council have established. It is particularly pleasing to see my colleague Cllr Steve Wilson and Hull born comedian and actress Lucy Beaumont giving their support to this important work.”
The list of new vice-presidents also includes Councillor Steve Wilson, chairman of the council’s health and wellbeing scrutiny commission, Marc Ortmans, Chair of Global Enterprise Network UK and CEO of Ideas Space Global, Lord Norton of Louth, Conservative Peer, writer and academic at University of Hull, Selebogo Molefe, founder of the Hook up Dinner and the People’s Fund in South Africa, and Johanna Cloete, Managing Director of GEN Namibia and supporter of start-ups and scale ups in Namibia.
Sir Nic Dakin, former Member of Parliament, Principal of John Leggott College and Vice Chair of Yorkshire Forward, Andy Penaluna, Professor Emeritus of the University of Wales and national expert on enterprise education and entrepreneurship, Sean Royce, former managing director of Retail KCOM and now CEO at Quickline Communications Limited, and Yuguo Liu, Chinese businessman and philanthropist, have also signed up.
Maureen Foers OBE, President of John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, said: “We are delighted to have attracted so many high-profile backers for Hull’s work for supporting young entrepreneurs. I am particularly pleased that we have secured support from Selebogo Molefe of South Africa, Johanna Cloete of Namibia, Yuguo Liu of China and Marc Ortmans of the Global Enterprise Network giving us international backing.”
Tony Robinson OBE, Patron of John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank, said: “I am pleased that so many high-profile business, political and educational leaders are giving their time and support to the young entrepreneurs in my home city of Hull, in particular Sir Nic Dakin, Sean Royce, Lord Norton of Louth and my good friend Andy Penaluna, Professor Emeritus of the University of Wales and national expert on enterprise education and entrepreneurship.”
For more information, follow @JCYEB_Hull and @HullsEnterprise on Twitter.
