OURFOUNDER
"A job is something you're paid to do...
a calling is something you're made to do!"
The team behind our urban youth charity is headed up by leader & project founder Dawnie Reynolds, who has been involved in pioneering & innovating youth projects all over the UK & abroad for the last 35 years.
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​​‘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.​
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With extensive experience & expertise in her field, Dawnie continues to engage in daily ground-level youth work despite her role as Ruff & Ruby’s leader. She is a highly acclaimed motivational youth communicator who pioneered the original UK-wide Soulsista movement & has spoken at large-scale national youth events in front of groups of up to 12,000 young people with The Message Trust, Manchester, SOULSISTA Girls Movement, & Oasis Trust London.​
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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 (Global Popstar Robbie William'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.
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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.
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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...
​Dawnie has extensive experience delivering high-quality youth consultancy, presentations & training for individuals & organisations looking to learn more about the needs of young people & youth culture.
She is available as a motivational speaker & an MC for workshops, awards ceremonies, youth & young adult events, festivals, church services, project launches & staff training events.
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“Dawnie is not just one of the most compelling & dynamic communicators I know, but she also has a massive heart for people. It’s a winning combination & I can’t recommend her highly enough.”
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~ Andy Hawthorne OBE, Founder & CEO,
The Message Trust
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To check Dawnie’s availability, please contact +44 (0)7812 774632 or info@ruffandruby.com
#YOUMATTER
RUFF & RUBY Youth Charity promotes positive self-esteem & aspirations in young people to be ‘the best version of themselves’.
#LIVEONPURPOSE