0:00:03 > 0:00:07One of the things I love about us Brits is our spirit of generosity.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09If I can give back to somebody who had
0:00:09 > 0:00:12a similar struggle to my own, then that's what I'd like to do.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16Last year, nearly three-quarters of us gave to charity.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20But what if you had the chance to go back and relive moments from
0:00:20 > 0:00:23- your past? - I wish I was 18 again!
0:00:23 > 0:00:26I'm expecting Mum and Dad to walk out now and say hello, you know?
0:00:26 > 0:00:28- Yeah.- You know?
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Moments which would inspire you to want to help someone today.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34I want to give back to those people that are going through that,
0:00:34 > 0:00:35that I went through in the beginning.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39If I can give something to somebody else that will change their lives, I'd really love to.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Fantastic!
0:00:41 > 0:00:44'Someone who had no idea this life-changing windfall was coming.'
0:00:44 > 0:00:50- I have got potentially her dream in my hand.- How are you feeling?
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Nervous.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54'There'll be surprises...' How are you?
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Fine, thank you.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Thank you so much!
0:00:58 > 0:00:59Thank you.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03'..with acts of generosity that will change people's lives...'
0:01:03 > 0:01:06- Really excited.- Aw! We're all crying!
0:01:06 > 0:01:09- Do you need a hug as well?- Thanks!
0:01:09 > 0:01:10'..for ever.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Wahey! That's brilliant!
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Somebody that just does that for people, it's just amazing.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17- It really is. - This is Going Back Giving Back.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Today, we're going back to 1980s London.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35It's a tale of failure and success, about drive and ambition.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39A story where one person's kindness could change someone else's life.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45How did one man's childhood dreams of sporting success turn to dust?
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Within four years from being at the Chelsea Academy, I was
0:01:48 > 0:01:52- working in a petrol station, with no qualifications.- Gosh!
0:01:52 > 0:01:54'We reunite him with a man whose guidance helped him turn his
0:01:54 > 0:01:56'life around.'
0:01:56 > 0:01:59A lot of advice that you've given me, it's absolutely stuck true.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02- How amazing.- Thank you so much.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04'Can he help realise the dreams of someone who
0:02:04 > 0:02:07'has had to overcome their own challenges?'
0:02:07 > 0:02:09When you're the person who is basically stopping yourself
0:02:09 > 0:02:11from doing things, you need to change things,
0:02:11 > 0:02:13otherwise you will just not live.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18'And the suspense builds, as we reveal our massive secret...'
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Just so, like, surprised!
0:02:20 > 0:02:24'..with a gift that'll mean the world to one ambitious young woman.'
0:02:24 > 0:02:27- Thank you so much.- Thank you. - Honestly.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37I'm in north-west London to meet a man who, 20 years ago, left
0:02:37 > 0:02:40school aged 15, armed with just one GCSE.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44It could have been the start of a life of setbacks, but he didn't give up.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48He transformed his life and now runs a very successful
0:02:48 > 0:02:50multi-million pound business.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53I'm about to hear his fascinating rags-to-riches story.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Today, 36-year-old Michael is the CEO of his own hugely
0:02:59 > 0:03:02successful headhunting firm in London.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05He's married, with three children, and lives in Suffolk.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09But I'm meeting him in London, just around the corner from where he grew up.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13- Hey, Michael.- Hey. How are you? - How are you? Nice to see you. - Good to see you.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16- You?- Yeah, I'm not bad. How are you? - Yeah, very well, thank you. Very well.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19- Beautiful day.- This is your sort of neck of the woods. This is where you grew up.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24- It's certainly changed since I've last been here.- Really?- It's a complete chasm, but it's stunning.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28- So you've decided that you want to give something back.- Indeed.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30I've been very fortunate to be surrounded by some really
0:03:30 > 0:03:32positive role models in my life.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where I can actually
0:03:36 > 0:03:41give back to somebody, so that's something which I'm very passionate about continuing to do.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43He may be a successful businessman today,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47but during his lifetime, Michael has been no stranger to failure.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50He started life on a tough council estate in London,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53where he felt his options were really limited.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56What was it like, growing up as a kid here?
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Very different to how it is now. For me, growing up,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01the role models at the time were the likes of John Barnes, via sports,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04you had the likes of Prince from a musician perspective,
0:04:04 > 0:04:08but also there was a preconceived notion at the time that criminal
0:04:08 > 0:04:12activities were potentially the way to get out of where we grew up.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16- Really?- So the three options that I perceived I had were either sport,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19- music, or criminality. - From a young age,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23Michael chose the sporting route and he excelled at football.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27Life for him was all about sport and not schoolwork.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I wanted to conform to the stereotype of being a footballer,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33but I wasn't actually quite strong enough to put my hand up and
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- embrace actually education at that time.- Right.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Left home at 16, embarked on a sports career.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Despite his academic failure,
0:04:40 > 0:04:45after leaving school with just one GCSE, Michael's talent,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47drive and ambition in football won him
0:04:47 > 0:04:50a coveted place on Chelsea's youth team.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51And for five years,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55he played at some of the top teams in the country.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56But by the age of 21,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59he was suffering from a recurring knee injury.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01He fell out of love with football
0:05:01 > 0:05:03and his career petered out.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07The most challenging piece for me is within four years from being
0:05:07 > 0:05:09at the Chelsea Academy, I was working in
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- a petrol station with no qualifications.- God!
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Living back at home, so it was quite a defining moment for me.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19It was yet another failure for Michael, but his drive and
0:05:19 > 0:05:23determination wasn't going to stop him from being successful.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25But you changed your life around.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Yeah, I had a chap called David Sexton, who was a coach when I was at Chelsea.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Gave me an opportunity to go to the States to get a soccer
0:05:32 > 0:05:37- scholarship in North Carolina and that was onwards and upwards for me. - Right.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Moving to America changed Michael's life.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42He channelled his energy and ambition into studying and
0:05:42 > 0:05:47in 2004, he graduated from the University of New York with
0:05:47 > 0:05:50a degree in business and strategic leadership.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Whatever life has thrown at him,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Michael has never given up and today,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57he wants to help someone whose attitude to life mirrors his own.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01You've got a successful business now,
0:06:01 > 0:06:05you want to give something back. To what sort of person?
0:06:05 > 0:06:09One of the things I'm really passionate about is seeing people fulfil their potential.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11I want to be able to help someone who has absolutely tried and
0:06:11 > 0:06:15has got the hunger and desire to push on and hopefully this change makes a difference to them.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19It doesn't get any bigger really, does it, the ability to change someone's life?
0:06:19 > 0:06:21To actually go in and actually be able to make
0:06:21 > 0:06:24a difference in someone's life is not only life-changing to them,
0:06:24 > 0:06:26it's going to be life-changing for me as well and I'm really
0:06:26 > 0:06:30looking forward to be able to experience the journey with them.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Well, listen, in order for you to give back, I think first, we need to go back,
0:06:33 > 0:06:37- so shall we dump these and...? - Dump the coffees, let's do it.- OK.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43I'm hoping this trip down memory lane will evoke strong
0:06:43 > 0:06:47feelings of nostalgia for Michael that will reinforce his
0:06:47 > 0:06:50desire to help someone who is struggling in their life today.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57- So have you got any idea where we might be going?- Absolutely no idea.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I'm mixed with trepidation and excitement,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04so it should be quite an interesting experience.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07We're taking Michael back to the estate where he lived as
0:07:07 > 0:07:08a teenager with his family.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12It's going to be particularly poignant as it will remind
0:07:12 > 0:07:15him of his brother, who suddenly passed away this year.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21This area is pleasantly suburban now, but 30 years ago,
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Michael grew up in a landscape of crime-ridden concrete tower blocks.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31What was it like, growing up on the estate that you grew up on?
0:07:31 > 0:07:35There was social deprivation and people needed to do what they
0:07:35 > 0:07:37- needed to do to survive.- Right.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41So, it was challenging, it was tough, in some people's view,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44- but also there was a sense of community as well.- Right.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48We knew everyone on the estate, so that wasn't deemed as rough for us.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- No. - It was just normal. You were aware of people getting up to things.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- You would see someone as a cheeky chappie, who was your next-door neighbour.- Yeah.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00He wouldn't rob your house, but he would rob a house two or three streets down the road.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Despite the crime all around him, Michael was lucky enough to be part of a loving family,
0:08:05 > 0:08:10with strong moral values, which were laid down by his grandparents.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14His grandfather, Aston Campbell, came to Britain back in 1948,
0:08:14 > 0:08:19as one of 500 West Indian immigrants aboard the ship the Empire Windrush.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23Half a million West Indians would follow in their footsteps,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26but the Windrush passengers were the pioneers,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30leaving their homes and families in search of a better life in Britain.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Just like his grandson, Aston was an ambitious entrepreneur.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38My grandparents came over on the Windrush.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42My grandfather, who is still alive today, but back in Jamaica,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44set up a building company,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47bought his first house and then gradually sent over for my mum.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50My grandmother, she was a budding entrepreneur.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53She set up her own hairdresser's.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Like many black immigrants arriving in the UK, Michael's
0:08:56 > 0:09:00grandparents had to make their own opportunities in life because
0:09:00 > 0:09:03avenues that were open to others were often closed to them.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07In London, at the time, for my grandparents, work was very difficult.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11You'd see at certain restaurants, hotels, "No blacks, Irish, or dogs."
0:09:11 > 0:09:13That was the environment that my grandparents grew up in.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Is that where the drive and the ambition comes from, do you think?
0:09:16 > 0:09:20- From your grandparents? - Fundamentally, absolutely.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23My grandparents instilled family, commitment, work.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26They were role models. They worked hard.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30They instilled that work ethic into my mum and, likewise, she's passed it on to us.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33- She has, hasn't she? - She has, absolutely.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Despite her strong work ethic,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38money was tight when Michael was growing up.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41But his mum did all she could to give her children the best
0:09:41 > 0:09:42possible start in life.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47- Your mum was a real mentor, wasn't she?- Oh, she is, still is today.
0:09:47 > 0:09:53Single parent, raised my brother and I, initially in a council house.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56My mum bought it. Every weekend, we were doing something,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59whether it be going to church, whether it be going to the
0:09:59 > 0:10:02London History Museum, she embraced education.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06My mum left school at 16, but went back to university, aged 50,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- secured a first class degree.- Wow! - Now, she's a psychotherapist.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15So she's constantly amazing me and always raising the bar.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Drive and ambition is very much a family trait.
0:10:18 > 0:10:19Already on this journey,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23the memories of his childhood are flooding back.
0:10:23 > 0:10:28- How are you feeling?- I honestly have not been around here for 20 years.
0:10:28 > 0:10:34- Goodness me! Do you still think of it as home?- It'll always be home.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38So yeah, coming back, naturally, will revive mixed emotions,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40to say the least.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45This is a particularly poignant and sad journey for Michael.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48His older brother Mark, whom he's always looked up to, and who grew up
0:10:48 > 0:10:52alongside him in this neighbourhood, passed away suddenly this year.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59Losing my brother, a few months ago, at the age of 40, unexpectedly,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03you know, there's going to be emotions,
0:11:03 > 0:11:09there's going to be several emotions coming through, where we would stand
0:11:09 > 0:11:13at that bus stop, on the way to school, get the number 83,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15or number 52 bus.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17It's emotional.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21We've arrived at our destination,
0:11:21 > 0:11:25the north-west London estate the family moved to when Michael was 11.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- This is you.- This is... This is us, this is me.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34- It was a nice little community then, wasn't it?- Very much so, yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And everyone knew everyone. And that's it.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42How will Michael feel, coming back to the house where
0:11:42 > 0:11:46he once shared a room with Mark, the big brother he used to idolise?
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- So, this was it.- This was it.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Same door. Same windows. Same tree.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57- You all right?- Yeah, good. Good, good.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Just I knew this would be quite emotive, coming back here.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05I'm sure my brother's looking down and smiling because we had
0:12:05 > 0:12:07some fantastic memories here, we truly did.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10To be brought up in this environment,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13maybe had some challenges, but we had a great role model in my mum.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16And family members. My mum planted that tree.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- Did she really?- 30-odd years ago. - Gosh! Is it nice to be back?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22It's amazing to be back and I'm appreciative of you taking me
0:12:22 > 0:12:26back here. I was very trepidatious about today.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29But what gives me a sense of pride in the emotions is that
0:12:29 > 0:12:31there's a young family in that house.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35- That was Mark, my mum and I, 30 years ago.- Mm.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38So, it's one where it fills your heart, there's another
0:12:38 > 0:12:42generation hopefully following our paths, in terms of living here.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- Shall we have a little wander round? - Let's do it. Absolutely.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- Come on then.- Great.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51For Michael, returning to the estate where he spent many happy
0:12:51 > 0:12:55hours with his brother Mark is bringing back lots of memories.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59The two were inseparable and they were both football mad.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03I've got images of my brother and I in our Argentina and Brazil
0:13:03 > 0:13:08- shirts walking up here. - Who did you want to be?- Oh, Pele!
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- Or John Barnes, at the time.- So this was the grass where you played on.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14- This is the grass, yeah. - So you could actually see Wembley from here then, couldn't you?
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Wembley will be just over there. - Gotcha.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Many young lads dream of playing of Wembley,
0:13:20 > 0:13:21but Michael actually did it.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25His talent and ambition as a footballer led to him playing
0:13:25 > 0:13:27in two All-England youth matches.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31On the field, he tested his skills against other up-and-coming
0:13:31 > 0:13:34players like Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38- What was that like?- It was very emotional for my parents,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41being able to see me play at Wembley Stadium a couple of occasions.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45You look back, you know, as a 15-year-old and it's something you've done.
0:13:45 > 0:13:46Football came easy, it came naturally,
0:13:46 > 0:13:49and it was just something I was just expected to do.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54A career as a professional footballer offered the promise
0:13:54 > 0:13:58of fame, fortune and the respect of millions, and as a teenager,
0:13:58 > 0:14:00Michael followed that dream.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04So, you obviously concentrated a lot on your football.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- How were you at school? - I wasn't brave enough.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10You know, I wasn't focused enough, in terms of realising that I
0:14:10 > 0:14:13- could be a great sportsman and actually embrace education.- Right.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16I was given a good opportunity there and just didn't embrace it.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Shall we go back to school?
0:14:18 > 0:14:21- Let's go back to school. - Come on then.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Let's do it.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Returning to the house where he grew up
0:14:25 > 0:14:28has clearly been an emotional experience for Michael.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32I'm hoping it's also strengthened his desire to give something back.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Coming up, our team have been on the hunt for a deserving young
0:14:37 > 0:14:40person, whose story will really hit home with Michael.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42And we think we've found them.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Like Michael, this remarkable young woman
0:14:47 > 0:14:49has plenty of drive and ambition.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53She's been told we're making a programme about dealing with
0:14:53 > 0:14:58disability and has no idea she could be in line for a life-changing gift.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06I've brought Michael back to Kingsbury High School, where
0:15:06 > 0:15:11his career as a footballer took off, to the detriment of his schoolwork.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- So, when was the last time you were here?- About 15 years ago.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18A great school. I had a fantastic time here.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20It's fair to say that you did more sport here than anything else.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Yeah, because I literally look over there and that's where the
0:15:23 > 0:15:26sports field is. That's where I spent most of my time.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28If it was winter, we weren't allowed on the fields.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30This is where we'd play football.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33- We used to have a basketball net up there.- Right.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- What does it feel like, being back here?- There's so many memories coming back.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Do you wish you'd studied harder here?
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Look, I wish I had a full set of hair.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46It's one of those where it didn't happen.
0:15:46 > 0:15:51Michael may not have applied himself at school, but he's made up for it since.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54It's taken years of hard work and determination for him to
0:15:54 > 0:15:57become the successful businessman he is today.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01I think really because of the fact that I coasted through school
0:16:01 > 0:16:05and I got what I deserved, I got one GCSE, that's what drove me,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08so again, I wouldn't go back and say I wish I had done something
0:16:08 > 0:16:11different because I wouldn't be the same Michael here today.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Listen, I think we can actually go in to the school.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17If I was to say - any teachers you wouldn't mind bumping into
0:16:17 > 0:16:21- when you're in there? - Aled, I think there's a few teachers I would like to avoid.- Uh-oh.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23- So, let's have a look. - Come on then.- Bring it.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Michael doesn't know it, but we've arranged a surprise reunion
0:16:31 > 0:16:35with someone who had a long-lasting influence on his life.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39I think there might be somebody in here that wants to see you.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Go on, after you.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- Michael, how are you?- How are you?
0:16:44 > 0:16:45I'm very good.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46So good to see you.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48You look really well.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Mr Sauberts was Michael's head of year at Kingsbury.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55He did his best to guide Michael through his time at school,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58but at times, it was an uphill struggle.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03- So, he's been telling me he was an all right student here.- Yeah.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Could have done better. Could have done better.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08But you had other fish to fry. You had the football.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Sport was very easy and I look back in hindsight at yourself,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14trying to get me to focus.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19Yeah, all my good advice, all those things I said to you in this assembly hall.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Mr Sauberts' good advice unfortunately fell on deaf ears.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Michael's school report was so bad one year that his mum cancelled
0:17:26 > 0:17:31a planned football trial with Queens Park Rangers to teach him a lesson.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35First few years, he had a hotline to my mum, in terms of phone calls.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- Did she ever have to come in? - Yeah, she was concerned.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42She was worried cos you weren't academically living up to what you could have done.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47You are a lot smaller than I remember because when I first met Mr Sauberts as an 11-year-old,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50he was like a giant and he had this booming voice.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- Did you do a lot of shouting, did you?- I had to talk authoritatively.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Pastoral care, I like to say. But really took time,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00trying to get me to become more of a well-rounded person and as
0:18:00 > 0:18:03an 11-year-old or a 15-year-old, 16-year-old,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05I thought I knew better.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Ironically, it was only after he left school that Michael
0:18:08 > 0:18:12began to realise the importance of his old teacher's guidance.
0:18:13 > 0:18:19As soon as I left Kingsbury and went into a working environment at
0:18:19 > 0:18:23a professional football club, I wasn't protected. A lot of the advice that you've given
0:18:23 > 0:18:26me has absolutely stuck true and thank you so much.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28How amazing.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Mr Sauberts has a surprise for Michael.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34A memento of his old schooldays.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37I've just got a little photo here, which you know this photo cos
0:18:37 > 0:18:41it's in the yearbook which we produced, but it does take you back.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44- Oh, I had hair! - You haven't changed a bit, you know!
0:18:44 > 0:18:48You really haven't! Only the hair, that's it!
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- Gosh!- Mm. Yeah. Good times.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Back home, I've got constant school reports which you had to sign off on
0:18:55 > 0:18:58and every report was - "Michael could do better,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01"Michael could fulfil his potential."
0:19:01 > 0:19:05At school, Michael knew being a good student wouldn't impress his mates.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Most of the time, he downplayed his intelligence and slipped into
0:19:08 > 0:19:11the easy role of classroom clown.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13For me, there was an element of peer pressure.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16There was a class with Mrs Woodrow, who was a PE teacher,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19and I was in the back of the class, like I normally did,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22goofing around, and Mrs Woodrow said, "What are the
0:19:22 > 0:19:27"demographics difference between rugby league and rugby union fans?"
0:19:27 > 0:19:33And everyone kept quiet and I put my hand up and, "Yes, Michael?"
0:19:33 > 0:19:34Expecting something.
0:19:34 > 0:19:39And I said, "Well, rugby league is more working class, northern-based
0:19:39 > 0:19:44"sport, whereas rugby union is more middle class, more affluent."
0:19:44 > 0:19:47And she just shook her head and said, "You've wasted yourself."
0:19:47 > 0:19:50And that's one thing which really sort of sticks with
0:19:50 > 0:19:54me because I wasn't brave enough to basically try and break a stereotype
0:19:54 > 0:19:57and sit in the front of the class and answer questions, you know?
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Michael never forgot his old teacher's words.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01Alongside his business,
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Michael's also involved in a number of charities and community projects.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09Helping others today is something close to his heart.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Coming back here, has it reinforced in you that desire to really
0:20:12 > 0:20:14want to give something back?
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Absolutely, I don't think you actually realise the profound
0:20:17 > 0:20:21impact you've had on people like me and various other students
0:20:21 > 0:20:22throughout their career.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25And from my point of view, being able to give back to somebody else
0:20:25 > 0:20:27is what Mr Sauberts did with me,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30there have been role models who throughout my journey,
0:20:30 > 0:20:34whilst they may not have impacted me there and then in that instance,
0:20:34 > 0:20:38they've had a profound effect, so again, it's been so good to see you.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40This is just absolutely... I'm lost for words.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Bringing Michael back to the place where he grew up
0:20:43 > 0:20:46has summoned up powerful recollections of his childhood.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48- You all right?- Yeah, good. Good, good.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Just I knew this would be quite emotive, coming back here.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56I'm sure my brother is looking down and smiling because we had
0:20:56 > 0:20:59some fantastic memories here.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02It's also reminded him of decisions he made as a teenager that
0:21:02 > 0:21:05would define the course of his life for years to come.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08At school, I wasn't brave enough, in terms of realising that I
0:21:08 > 0:21:12- could be a great sportsman and actually embrace education.- Right.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17But most importantly, it's helped focus his mind on giving back.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21From my point of view, being able to give back to somebody else is what Mr Sauberts did with me.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Bringing Michael back to his old stomping ground
0:21:28 > 0:21:30has reminded him how far he's come.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33His life today is a far cry from that of his childhood, but it
0:21:33 > 0:21:37really is the driving force behind him wanting to help someone today.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Of course, there are many people who could benefit from Michael's
0:21:39 > 0:21:43generosity, but we think we've found somebody whose story will
0:21:43 > 0:21:45really resonate with him.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Holly is a student at Coventry University.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54She's been blind from birth, but she's never let that stop her
0:21:54 > 0:21:57from living an independent and full life.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00She's travelled the world and has a website of her own where she
0:22:00 > 0:22:04shares her experiences of living with blindness.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08Holly's worked hard in life to overcome stereotypes and it's
0:22:08 > 0:22:11this drive and determination which we think will strike
0:22:11 > 0:22:13a chord with Michael.
0:22:13 > 0:22:14I'm off to meet Holly.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17When I heard about her story, it really inspired me.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20She's a very determined young lady, from what I've heard.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24So hopefully, she doesn't give me too much of a hard time, but looking forward to it.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29Holly thinks we're making a programme about living with disability and overcoming adversity.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33She has no idea she could be in for a life-changing gift.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- Hello. Holly?- Hi.- Hi, I'm Michael. How are you?- Hi. Nice to meet you.
0:22:36 > 0:22:37Nice to meet you.
0:22:37 > 0:22:43- So, what's your friend called?- Isla. - Hello, Isla. How old is she?- Five.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47Holly, it's lovely meeting you. So, tell me a little bit about you.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49I'm 22, I'm originally from York,
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- but I'm studying at Coventry University.- What are you studying?
0:22:52 > 0:22:56- Spanish.- Where did the interest come out to study Spanish?
0:22:56 > 0:23:00I actually took A-level history and I studied the conquest of the
0:23:00 > 0:23:03New World, which made me quite interested in Latin America
0:23:03 > 0:23:05and I took a year out and I moved to Spain,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08so I could learn it and then come and do it at university.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Hold on, so you just decided - take a year out and go to Spain?
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Yeah, I've never lived in another country before.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17I didn't really know what I was doing, barely spoke any Spanish,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20and I just thought, "Well, I'll just give it a go."
0:23:20 > 0:23:23And how was that, just in terms of being in a foreign country?
0:23:23 > 0:23:26I found it actually great. I had lots of support from La ONCE,
0:23:26 > 0:23:30that's basically the biggest organisation for the blind in Spain.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34- OK.- When I arrived, they gave me orientation and mobility support.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36The language school were really great.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39They sent me scanned copies of my books and things like that,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41so actually it worked out really, really well.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44Just from speaking to you for a couple of minutes,
0:23:44 > 0:23:49your personality, your enthusiasm, your drive is really infectious.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Where did this resolute drive come from?
0:23:51 > 0:23:56Because my parents had brought me up to be exactly the same as my older sister. She's fully sighted.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58I didn't realise that in society's mind,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01blind people weren't supposed to do things.
0:24:01 > 0:24:02I had certain things adapted.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04I used Braille in school and things like that,
0:24:04 > 0:24:09but beyond the necessities, I was just a child and I was allowed to be
0:24:09 > 0:24:13a child and it really took me a long time before I met other blind
0:24:13 > 0:24:16people and realised that wasn't how other people were brought up
0:24:16 > 0:24:20and that actually wasn't how society viewed me.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Holly was lucky to grow up in a family that celebrated her
0:24:23 > 0:24:27abilities and helped her achieve her full potential.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30But outside the nurturing environment of her home,
0:24:30 > 0:24:34she found that other people focused on her disability.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37When did you first encounter some form of discrimination?
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Actually, I would say the worst discrimination in many ways
0:24:40 > 0:24:43came from adults. For example, I was probably around seven or eight.
0:24:43 > 0:24:44I was in the school choir.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47We were doing kind of a Christmas event, we were singing,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50and we were all dressed up and we were carrying, you know, those
0:24:50 > 0:24:54- lanterns that you put a small candle in and they have a door in them? - Yes.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59So, perfectly safe and every child was allowed to carry one, except me.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03And I remember asking - why can't I? It was just, "Well, you can't. You're blind. You can't do it."
0:25:03 > 0:25:08I was just like - well, I can carry it, I'm allowed to do things at home.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11And I just remember arguing and like trying to explain and
0:25:11 > 0:25:13it's harder when you're a child because you don't know what
0:25:13 > 0:25:16discrimination is, you don't know that word when you're seven or eight,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19but you know what it feels like and it's so hard to articulate
0:25:19 > 0:25:22when you're a child that this thing is happening to you.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24How did that make you feel as an eight-year-old?
0:25:24 > 0:25:28I think, honestly, most of what it made feel was just helpless
0:25:28 > 0:25:31because for the first time I realised that actually maybe I couldn't do things,
0:25:31 > 0:25:36not because I couldn't but because other people wouldn't allow me to.
0:25:36 > 0:25:42Being pigeonholed by other people is something Michael can totally relate to.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45As a young black man, growing up on a tough London estate,
0:25:45 > 0:25:47he felt limited avenues were open to him.
0:25:49 > 0:25:55I wasn't as strong or as brave as you because I conformed and actually
0:25:55 > 0:25:58thought that my only option was to play sport,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02so I played professional sports, soccer, when I was growing up.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05It was only when I was in my late teens,
0:26:05 > 0:26:09early 20s, that I realised that I could actually achieve more.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13I wanted to go to university, I wanted to read books,
0:26:13 > 0:26:17I wanted to travel, but certainly within my peer group at the
0:26:17 > 0:26:21time, growing up in London, that wasn't necessarily supportive.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Did you find growing up as a teenager was
0:26:23 > 0:26:27a little bit more challenging, in terms of people's stereotypes?
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Yeah, and I found that it's very easy to blame yourself for
0:26:31 > 0:26:35things or hold yourself responsible for society's perceptions of
0:26:35 > 0:26:39you, so I grew up and I didn't want to use a cane,
0:26:39 > 0:26:44I didn't want to be visibly blind because I felt that by doing
0:26:44 > 0:26:50- those things then I would experience that judgment.- Trying to blend in.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54Yeah, and you fall into this culture where essentially you want to
0:26:54 > 0:26:57erase the part of yourself that is different, or that doesn't comply
0:26:57 > 0:27:01with what people think you should be and I wouldn't use the word
0:27:01 > 0:27:05"blind" to describe myself, I would always describe myself as "visually impaired", for example.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08- Right. - Whereas now, I embrace the term "blind" as part of my identity,
0:27:08 > 0:27:12for a long time, it was a struggle because I associated that
0:27:12 > 0:27:14with people's negative perceptions of me.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18And I got to a point where I just thought - what am I doing to
0:27:18 > 0:27:20myself? And that's really hard to...
0:27:20 > 0:27:25When you're the person who is basically stopping yourself from doing things in the end,
0:27:25 > 0:27:28it's so hard to fight that because you essentially have to sit
0:27:28 > 0:27:31down with yourself and have a pretty hard conversation,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35so you need to change things, otherwise you will just not live.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39The busy, independent life that Holly leads today is proof of
0:27:39 > 0:27:42her success in overcoming society's stereotype about what
0:27:42 > 0:27:44a blind person can achieve.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49She's now working hard to make such stereotypes a thing of the past.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Like Michael, she believes in helping others.
0:27:52 > 0:27:57You work with other disabled people to work with and deal with
0:27:57 > 0:27:59some of the issues which they're presented with and the
0:27:59 > 0:28:02discrimination they receive?
0:28:02 > 0:28:05I have, with a group of disabled people, set up an organisation which
0:28:05 > 0:28:10is tackling domestic and sexual violence against disabled people.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- Oh, wow!- We're called Disabled Survivors Unite.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15We consider people who have experienced domestic and
0:28:15 > 0:28:18sexual violence to be survivors, rather than victims.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21So many people have already reached out to us and said,
0:28:21 > 0:28:22"We really need you.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25"This is a service that just isn't in existence,"
0:28:25 > 0:28:29and we are looking at obtaining charitable status.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32At the moment, we are all kind of pulling all our expertise together.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36- Yeah.- So there's just five of us doing what we can.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40What type of support would help to take the work that you're
0:28:40 > 0:28:42doing to the fore?
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Well, right now, we're looking to raise our start-up cost,
0:28:45 > 0:28:48so we're trying to literally raise what I call just complete
0:28:48 > 0:28:52minimum cost to allow us to travel to conferences and put our
0:28:52 > 0:28:54website together, things like that.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58But what we really need after that is advice, I guess,
0:28:58 > 0:29:02on a business plan going forward cos we're all fairly young and
0:29:02 > 0:29:05we've never done anything like this before,
0:29:05 > 0:29:07but we really want it to be successful.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11Having heard Holly's inspirational story,
0:29:11 > 0:29:14Michael is keen to find out what he can do to help her.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18In terms of the funding piece, what's the target for you to
0:29:18 > 0:29:21sort of reach your minimum requirements, as it were?
0:29:21 > 0:29:24Right now, we're literally looking to raise £1,000.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28And then the second part is maybe a form of mentor or just
0:29:28 > 0:29:32somebody who's got experience with charities, setting them up,
0:29:32 > 0:29:34the legislation involved as well.
0:29:34 > 0:29:39- We really just need as much advice and help as we can get.- OK.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42- I've really enjoyed meeting you today.- Me too.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46And hopefully have the chance to sort of see you develop and
0:29:46 > 0:29:47grow the website.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49Thank you. It's been really nice to meet you too.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53- Take care.- You too. - See you later. Bye-bye.- Bye.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55This was an important meeting for Michael.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58He was looking for someone with drive and ambition and in
0:29:58 > 0:30:00Holly, I think he's found just that.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07She's had so much adversity put in her way,
0:30:07 > 0:30:10but the fact that she's smashed through any prejudice or
0:30:10 > 0:30:15misconceived perceptions around blind people has truly inspired me.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17Hopefully, the gift that I can give her
0:30:17 > 0:30:21will certainly help her on her way.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24It's clear that Holly has made a big impression on Michael,
0:30:24 > 0:30:28but before he can decide HOW he can help her, he's going to talk through
0:30:28 > 0:30:31this important decision with his friend and fellow entrepreneur,
0:30:31 > 0:30:33Tim Campbell.
0:30:33 > 0:30:38I just spent the most incredible time with a lady called Holly.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40She was born visually impaired.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43She is at Coventry University studying Spanish.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45She went to Spain last year just off a whim to say,
0:30:45 > 0:30:49- "Look, I want to learn Spanish..." - She just did it.- ..and she went.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51That's similar to you, though.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54You'll have something that you want to do and you'll just make it happen
0:30:54 > 0:30:56so there must have been a connection there on some level.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58There was a huge connection.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01This lady, she's got drive, she's got enthusiasm
0:31:01 > 0:31:05and she wouldn't let her disability and the negative stereotypes
0:31:05 > 0:31:10- that people have of disability to impact her life.- Yeah.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14She set up a charity which deals with disabled people who are
0:31:14 > 0:31:17the victims of sexual and domestic abuse.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19It made me feel quite inferior, to be honest.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22The problems that I have of being slightly overweight
0:31:22 > 0:31:24and having no hair...
0:31:24 > 0:31:27- They pale in comparison.- Exactly.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30And that's the thing where this person,
0:31:30 > 0:31:35- in a very short period of time, has just changed me.- Yeah.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38I've got so much respect and admiration that I want to be
0:31:38 > 0:31:39able to help her.
0:31:39 > 0:31:44What's causing the pause then, because you're quite a decisive guy?
0:31:44 > 0:31:48- What's the concern or worry? - There's no concern, per se.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51I'm just trying to think about what type of things I could do.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53What do you think she needs, then?
0:31:53 > 0:31:57What have you seen in her that you could potentially assist with?
0:31:57 > 0:31:59With the charity, that's something I can help with
0:31:59 > 0:32:02and certainly be able to introduce her to people who are
0:32:02 > 0:32:03passionate about that.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06There's a business plan in terms of cash flow,
0:32:06 > 0:32:08marketing the website which would help her.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11We could also connect her with professionals who can do that too.
0:32:11 > 0:32:12But there's more.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15I don't want to just write a cheque and, at the end of the project,
0:32:15 > 0:32:16walk away.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20I want to be able to leave something which will enable her to
0:32:20 > 0:32:22build and develop.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24I suppose you've got the two different sides, haven't you?
0:32:24 > 0:32:29- You've got the Holly person... - Yeah.- ..and Holly business.- Yeah.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33And obviously they're linked, but they can be separated out.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35That's the bit you've got to decide now.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37How much do you want to give to her as
0:32:37 > 0:32:41a business person and then how much can you support her as
0:32:41 > 0:32:44a person, where she can then develop and grow in her own right
0:32:44 > 0:32:46and you can look around and say,
0:32:46 > 0:32:49- "I was helpful in that journey, but now look at her fly."- Yeah.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51Really focus on, can you help her with the business?
0:32:51 > 0:32:54Then see if she's ready and receptive for all that you can bring
0:32:54 > 0:32:56because you are a big force.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00If you believe that she's ready for the journey as well,
0:33:00 > 0:33:03you'll commit to it 100%.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06It's whether or not she will see that as a positive thing,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09but the ultimate person to make that decision is going to be her.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11- Does that makes sense?- No, it does.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14Look, I appreciate, as always,
0:33:14 > 0:33:17your guidance and I think what I need to do is sleep on it and
0:33:17 > 0:33:23take some time to ensure that it makes a difference to Holly.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Fantastic.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Tim's support and advice has been crucial to Michael, but,
0:33:29 > 0:33:32ultimately, only he can decide what he can offer Holly.
0:33:32 > 0:33:33She's clearly impressed him,
0:33:33 > 0:33:37but what can he do to make a positive contribution to her life?
0:33:52 > 0:33:54I haven't seen Michael for a while,
0:33:54 > 0:33:55but I do know that he's caught up with Holly.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58There are so many parallels in their lives.
0:33:58 > 0:33:59The main one, I suppose,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02being their desire to succeed against all the odds.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05They also both like helping other people,
0:34:05 > 0:34:09but is Michael willing to go back and help Holly today?
0:34:09 > 0:34:11Let's go and find out.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18'Michael is waiting for me just around the corner from where
0:34:18 > 0:34:21'Holly is meeting a friend for a drink.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24'It's time to find out just what he's decided to do.'
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- Hey, Michael. How are you?- Good to see you.- Really nice to see you.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32- It's been a while. - It's been too long.- It has.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35- And I know that you met up with Holly, didn't you?- Yeah.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37How did that go?
0:34:37 > 0:34:42Aled, the hour that I spent with Holly will truly stay with me.
0:34:42 > 0:34:43Really? How come?
0:34:43 > 0:34:48The adversity that she has come through her entire life was
0:34:48 > 0:34:52- truly inspirational.- Did you see any parallels between your lives?
0:34:52 > 0:34:55That never-give-up type mentality really sort of drew parallels
0:34:55 > 0:34:58to my experience growing up in inner-city London.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00You had so many obstacles in your way as well
0:35:00 > 0:35:02and you just seemed to leap over them.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05I had obstacles. I think with Holly, she smashes through these obstacles.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07- Right.- She has been told she couldn't do things over
0:35:07 > 0:35:12a period of time and that just drove that innate drive that she has.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16- She's a ball of energy. Her life is about inspiring others.- Yeah.
0:35:16 > 0:35:22She's a massive advocate for raising awareness for sexual abuse
0:35:22 > 0:35:26and also physical abuse for disabled and blind people and that's
0:35:26 > 0:35:29something which I'm very passionate about and certainly would
0:35:29 > 0:35:32love to try and support her on her endeavours.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35I've never seen you look so buzzed about something.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39It's very rare in my life that I come across people that
0:35:39 > 0:35:42- truly inspire me. - Are you going to help her then?
0:35:42 > 0:35:47She's helped me and absolutely I want to help her on her journey.
0:35:47 > 0:35:48How are you going to do that?
0:35:48 > 0:35:51Look, this is an investment on someone who's going to
0:35:51 > 0:35:53achieve massive things in her life.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57So I think one of the first pieces that I'm looking to do is set up the
0:35:57 > 0:36:01charity officially, which will be looking to pay all the legal fees.
0:36:01 > 0:36:06We will also be looking to invest a year's worth of operating costs, so
0:36:06 > 0:36:11this will cover transport, events, media, but we're also going to build
0:36:11 > 0:36:13up their website, and, in essence,
0:36:13 > 0:36:17support the charity for the first 12 months of its existence.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20That sounds like it's going to cost a lot of money.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23It can be anything from £5,000 to £8,000 in terms of that
0:36:23 > 0:36:25- initial investment.- Wow!
0:36:25 > 0:36:29My goodness me, she has made a huge impact on you, hasn't she?
0:36:29 > 0:36:31That's very, very generous of you, Michael.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33Look, this is just the beginning.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37I want to be part of Holly's life moving forward and if it's
0:36:37 > 0:36:41a case of Holly wants that mentorship from myself and wants
0:36:41 > 0:36:44additional help, I will look to be able to do that over
0:36:44 > 0:36:47- a longer period of time. - That's so fantastic of you.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50Have you put all these thoughts and ideas of yours in a letter?
0:36:50 > 0:36:53- I have. It's in my breast pocket. - Ready to go.- Ready to go.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Listen, I think she's around here somewhere
0:36:55 > 0:36:58- so I think we should give her the good news.- Looking forward to it.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Come on, let's go and surprise her.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04'This is Michael's big moment -
0:37:04 > 0:37:07'revealing to Holly what he's really been up to.'
0:37:07 > 0:37:10So Holly and Ellie are just enjoying the sunshine around the corner.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13- How are you feeling?- Nervous. - I'm really nervous as well.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15I've been here before, but very nervous.
0:37:15 > 0:37:19'Holly has no idea what's about to happen.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22'Just how will she react?'
0:37:23 > 0:37:25Hi, morning.
0:37:25 > 0:37:26- How are you?- Hi.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28- I'm Aled from the BBC.- Hi. - Really nice to see you.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31- Hi, Ellie, how are you? - Nice to meet you.- Hello, you!
0:37:31 > 0:37:34- Sorry about the dog!- Oh, I love the dog. Listen, you thought we were making
0:37:34 > 0:37:37a programme about living with disability.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41It's not the full story. I've got Michael here with me, as well,
0:37:41 > 0:37:42who you know, of course.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44Over to you, Michael.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49I just wanted to say, last week was one of the most emotional but
0:37:49 > 0:37:51also inspirational moments that I've had.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55You're truly a wonderful individual and I'm very keen to help you
0:37:55 > 0:37:57on your journey.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01Now, I've written a letter down because if I talk I might cry!
0:38:01 > 0:38:05No, don't cry. Oh, no, I'm so awkward. Don't cry.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08I might cry, so I'm going to pass the letter over to your friend.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11I hope you can read my writing.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15'Holly, I'd like to say thank you for taking the time to meet me
0:38:15 > 0:38:17'and share your story with me.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19'You are one of the most inspirational people that
0:38:19 > 0:38:21'I've had the chance to meet and your drive,
0:38:21 > 0:38:26'motivation and passion for life deserve to be commended.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29'Opening up opportunities for professional and personal
0:38:29 > 0:38:32'development to people of all backgrounds is something I'm
0:38:32 > 0:38:33'really passionate about,
0:38:33 > 0:38:37'which is the reason why I'd like to invest in your future.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39'Firstly, I'm going to help you establish the
0:38:39 > 0:38:44'Disabled Survivors Unite charity by covering all the legal costs
0:38:44 > 0:38:46'and all the legal paperwork.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50'Then I will cover the first 12 months' operating costs and fund
0:38:50 > 0:38:54'the development of the website by a professional web designer,
0:38:54 > 0:38:58'including the services of the copywriter to produce content.'
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Oh, my God!
0:39:00 > 0:39:04'I'd love to invite you to run a workshop with some of my clients
0:39:04 > 0:39:08'in the City on the challenges facing disabled people
0:39:08 > 0:39:11'and how everyone is responsible for changing the narratives
0:39:11 > 0:39:14'surrounding disability.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17'Finally, I'm going to assign you a professional fundraising mentor
0:39:17 > 0:39:21'to develop your own fundraising skill set.
0:39:21 > 0:39:22'This isn't a donation,
0:39:22 > 0:39:25'but an investment in you in order the challenge the ongoing
0:39:25 > 0:39:29'discrimination of disabled people and, most importantly,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32'to give everyone the opportunity to have a voice.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35'I'm looking forward to working with you. All the best, Michael.'
0:39:35 > 0:39:38- Oh, my God. Thank you.- Can I give you a cuddle? Can I give you a hug?
0:39:38 > 0:39:41- Yes!- Thank you so much.- Thank you.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45- Thank you. - How do you feel about this?
0:39:45 > 0:39:48I'm just kind of surprised.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50Your face was a picture, honestly.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52Your jaw was hitting the floor.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55It's not very often Holly's lost for words, so I'll take that...
0:39:55 > 0:39:58I don't know how to feel that you know that already(!)
0:39:58 > 0:40:00What difference will this make?
0:40:00 > 0:40:02This is going to make, like, such a difference,
0:40:02 > 0:40:03because it's not just for me.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07It's for everyone who's running this charity with me
0:40:07 > 0:40:10and for all the people that hopefully we'll reach as well.
0:40:10 > 0:40:11Oh, my God!
0:40:11 > 0:40:15Your story last week, Holly, was just so inspirational to me
0:40:15 > 0:40:19and I'm so proud and hopefully honoured to be working with you.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- Thank you.- Are you happy?- Yeah.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25- On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you?- I don't know.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29I'm just so, like, surprised.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32- A nice surprise?- Yeah.- Oh, good. I'm really, really glad.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Good luck with everything that you do in the future.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38You've had a huge impact on Michael and I'm sure you'll have an
0:40:38 > 0:40:41impact on many people in the future as well. Nice to see you, guys.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43All the best. Bye-bye.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53That's amazing.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55So good.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58I was really, really surprised.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01I still am surprised.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06Obviously really happy too, but I think just more, like, shocked.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09It has been truly one of those incredible journeys that I've
0:41:09 > 0:41:12been on and certainly to be able to end that off with making an
0:41:12 > 0:41:15investment in Holly and the charity has definitely been
0:41:15 > 0:41:18a very exciting experience for me.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21So what difference will it make when you're at uni now?
0:41:21 > 0:41:24I don't even know. I can't even imagine.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26It's just going to be like...
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Having the professional support is going to...
0:41:29 > 0:41:34mean I can actually do everything to make the organisation better
0:41:34 > 0:41:40and I don't have to worry that it's new and I might do something wrong.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44It's just going to make it so much better.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46She's done such good work so it's really nice that she's been
0:41:46 > 0:41:48recognised for that.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52I'm so proud of her and I'm sure that she's just beaming inside.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55She's just so shocked at the moment. She had no idea.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59Finding out that I would have support to set up Disabled Survivors
0:41:59 > 0:42:03Unite is kind of incredible because it will really enable us to
0:42:03 > 0:42:09reach people who we may never have had the opportunity to reach before,
0:42:09 > 0:42:12and that, for our organisation,
0:42:12 > 0:42:16that's so important that we are able to do that.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24What amazing people Michael and Holly are.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27They've both had to overcome so many obstacles in life, but,
0:42:27 > 0:42:30you know, neither of them have let others' prejudice get them down
0:42:30 > 0:42:33or hinder their ambition and drive.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35And now, thanks to Michael helping Holly,
0:42:35 > 0:42:39she can go on and inspire others to be the best they can.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43She's living proof that anything is possible in life.