OURBACKSTORY
‘RUBYGIRL’ was founded on 11th November 2010 by our leader Dawnie Reynolds - originally focusing on supporting young girls with low self-worth & aspirations along with poor mental health.
Dawnie grew up below the poverty line & was bullied at school. During her childhood & adolescence, she experienced relational abuse, mental health issues & an eating disorder.
At 14, a youth worker spotted her potential & gave her the opportunity to volunteer at her local youth club, which changed the trajectory of her life.
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WE BELIEVE THAT OPPORTUNITY & PURPOSE CAN CHANGE A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE!​
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This lived experience helped Dawnie to find her faith, and FIND HER WHY.
She left Stoke-on-Trent at the age of 19 to join a charity in London & subsequently worked & travelled across the UK & overseas, pioneering & developing inspirational youth projects such as SOULSISTA & LIFT skatepark along with working alongside UK youth organisations such as The Message Trust, returning to her home city more than a decade later.
Back in Stoke, Dawnie launched & developed some motivational one-off events for girls across SOT called GIRL international before working with 2 of the local high schools mentoring young people, delivering inclusion interventions and creative youth engagement programs.
She then began working with STOKE-ON-TRENT COLLEGE & was Inspired by meeting JAN WILLIAMS (Robbie's Mum - Now a Patron) after working on a 'POP IDOL' event together (with Jan as a judge!) at the heart of the estate on Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent.
It was at this time that Jan encouraged Dawnie to start a charity for young people in Stoke on Trent as a local focus, along with her UK remit.
The charity journey began, starting out as "RubyGirl ft. Ruff Diamondz", which is now known as " RUFF & RUBY - Urban Youth Charity".
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The rest, as they say, is history...
#YOUMATTER
RUFF & RUBY Youth Charity promotes positive self-esteem & aspirations in young people to be ‘the best version of themselves’.
#LIVEONPURPOSE