Episode 12 Going Back Giving Back

One of the things I love about us Brits is our spirit of generosity.

If I can give back to somebody who had

a similar struggle to my own, then that's what I'd like to do.

Last year, nearly three-quarters of us gave to charity.

But what if you had the chance to go back and relive moments from

-your past?

-I wish I was 18 again!

I'm expecting Mum and Dad to walk out now and say hello, you know?

-Yeah.

-You know?

Moments which would inspire you to want to help someone today.

I want to give back to those people that are going through that,

that I went through in the beginning.

If I can give something to somebody else that will change their lives, I'd really love to.

Fantastic!

'Someone who had no idea this life-changing windfall was coming.'

-I have got potentially her dream in my hand.

-How are you feeling?

Nervous.

'There'll be surprises...' How are you?

Fine, thank you.

Thank you so much!

Thank you.

'..with acts of generosity that will change people's lives...'

-Really excited.

-Aw! We're all crying!

-Do you need a hug as well?

-Thanks!

'..for ever.'

Wahey! That's brilliant!

Somebody that just does that for people, it's just amazing.

-It really is.

-This is Going Back Giving Back.

Today, we're going back to 1980s London.

It's a tale of failure and success, about drive and ambition.

A story where one person's kindness could change someone else's life.

How did one man's childhood dreams of sporting success turn to dust?

Within four years from being at the Chelsea Academy, I was

-working in a petrol station, with no qualifications.

-Gosh!

'We reunite him with a man whose guidance helped him turn his

'life around.'

A lot of advice that you've given me, it's absolutely stuck true.

-How amazing.

-Thank you so much.

'Can he help realise the dreams of someone who

'has had to overcome their own challenges?'

When you're the person who is basically stopping yourself

from doing things, you need to change things,

otherwise you will just not live.

'And the suspense builds, as we reveal our massive secret...'

Just so, like, surprised!

'..with a gift that'll mean the world to one ambitious young woman.'

-Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

-Honestly.

I'm in north-west London to meet a man who, 20 years ago, left

school aged 15, armed with just one GCSE.

It could have been the start of a life of setbacks, but he didn't give up.

He transformed his life and now runs a very successful

multi-million pound business.

I'm about to hear his fascinating rags-to-riches story.

Today, 36-year-old Michael is the CEO of his own hugely

successful headhunting firm in London.

He's married, with three children, and lives in Suffolk.

But I'm meeting him in London, just around the corner from where he grew up.

-Hey, Michael.

-Hey. How are you?

-How are you? Nice to see you.

-Good to see you.

-You?

-Yeah, I'm not bad. How are you?

-Yeah, very well, thank you. Very well.

-Beautiful day.

-This is your sort of neck of the woods. This is where you grew up.

-It's certainly changed since I've last been here.

-Really?

-It's a complete chasm, but it's stunning.

-So you've decided that you want to give something back.

-Indeed.

I've been very fortunate to be surrounded by some really

positive role models in my life.

I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where I can actually

give back to somebody, so that's something which I'm very passionate about continuing to do.

He may be a successful businessman today,

but during his lifetime, Michael has been no stranger to failure.

He started life on a tough council estate in London,

where he felt his options were really limited.

What was it like, growing up as a kid here?

Very different to how it is now. For me, growing up,

the role models at the time were the likes of John Barnes, via sports,

you had the likes of Prince from a musician perspective,

but also there was a preconceived notion at the time that criminal

activities were potentially the way to get out of where we grew up.

-Really?

-So the three options that I perceived I had were either sport,

-music, or criminality.

-From a young age,

Michael chose the sporting route and he excelled at football.

Life for him was all about sport and not schoolwork.

I wanted to conform to the stereotype of being a footballer,

but I wasn't actually quite strong enough to put my hand up and

-embrace actually education at that time.

-Right.

Left home at 16, embarked on a sports career.

Despite his academic failure,

after leaving school with just one GCSE, Michael's talent,

drive and ambition in football won him

a coveted place on Chelsea's youth team.

And for five years,

he played at some of the top teams in the country.

But by the age of 21,

he was suffering from a recurring knee injury.

He fell out of love with football

and his career petered out.

The most challenging piece for me is within four years from being

at the Chelsea Academy, I was working in

-a petrol station with no qualifications.

-God!

Living back at home, so it was quite a defining moment for me.

It was yet another failure for Michael, but his drive and

determination wasn't going to stop him from being successful.

But you changed your life around.

Yeah, I had a chap called David Sexton, who was a coach when I was at Chelsea.

Gave me an opportunity to go to the States to get a soccer

-scholarship in North Carolina and that was onwards and upwards for me.

-Right.

Moving to America changed Michael's life.

He channelled his energy and ambition into studying and

in 2004, he graduated from the University of New York with

a degree in business and strategic leadership.

Whatever life has thrown at him,

Michael has never given up and today,

he wants to help someone whose attitude to life mirrors his own.

You've got a successful business now,

you want to give something back. To what sort of person?

One of the things I'm really passionate about is seeing people fulfil their potential.

I want to be able to help someone who has absolutely tried and

has got the hunger and desire to push on and hopefully this change makes a difference to them.

It doesn't get any bigger really, does it, the ability to change someone's life?

To actually go in and actually be able to make

a difference in someone's life is not only life-changing to them,

it's going to be life-changing for me as well and I'm really

looking forward to be able to experience the journey with them.

Well, listen, in order for you to give back, I think first, we need to go back,

-so shall we dump these and...?

-Dump the coffees, let's do it.

-OK.

I'm hoping this trip down memory lane will evoke strong

feelings of nostalgia for Michael that will reinforce his

desire to help someone who is struggling in their life today.

-So have you got any idea where we might be going?

-Absolutely no idea.

I'm mixed with trepidation and excitement,

so it should be quite an interesting experience.

We're taking Michael back to the estate where he lived as

a teenager with his family.

It's going to be particularly poignant as it will remind

him of his brother, who suddenly passed away this year.

This area is pleasantly suburban now, but 30 years ago,

Michael grew up in a landscape of crime-ridden concrete tower blocks.

What was it like, growing up on the estate that you grew up on?

There was social deprivation and people needed to do what they

-needed to do to survive.

-Right.

So, it was challenging, it was tough, in some people's view,

-but also there was a sense of community as well.

-Right.

We knew everyone on the estate, so that wasn't deemed as rough for us.

-No.

-It was just normal. You were aware of people getting up to things.

-You would see someone as a cheeky chappie, who was your next-door neighbour.

-Yeah.

He wouldn't rob your house, but he would rob a house two or three streets down the road.

Despite the crime all around him, Michael was lucky enough to be part of a loving family,

with strong moral values, which were laid down by his grandparents.

His grandfather, Aston Campbell, came to Britain back in 1948,

as one of 500 West Indian immigrants aboard the ship the Empire Windrush.

Half a million West Indians would follow in their footsteps,

but the Windrush passengers were the pioneers,

leaving their homes and families in search of a better life in Britain.

Just like his grandson, Aston was an ambitious entrepreneur.

My grandparents came over on the Windrush.

My grandfather, who is still alive today, but back in Jamaica,

set up a building company,

bought his first house and then gradually sent over for my mum.

My grandmother, she was a budding entrepreneur.

She set up her own hairdresser's.

Like many black immigrants arriving in the UK, Michael's

grandparents had to make their own opportunities in life because

avenues that were open to others were often closed to them.

In London, at the time, for my grandparents, work was very difficult.

You'd see at certain restaurants, hotels, "No blacks, Irish, or dogs."

That was the environment that my grandparents grew up in.

Is that where the drive and the ambition comes from, do you think?

-From your grandparents?

-Fundamentally, absolutely.

My grandparents instilled family, commitment, work.

They were role models. They worked hard.

They instilled that work ethic into my mum and, likewise, she's passed it on to us.

-She has, hasn't she?

-She has, absolutely.

Despite her strong work ethic,

money was tight when Michael was growing up.

But his mum did all she could to give her children the best

possible start in life.

-Your mum was a real mentor, wasn't she?

-Oh, she is, still is today.

Single parent, raised my brother and I, initially in a council house.

My mum bought it. Every weekend, we were doing something,

whether it be going to church, whether it be going to the

London History Museum, she embraced education.

My mum left school at 16, but went back to university, aged 50,

-secured a first class degree.

-Wow!

-Now, she's a psychotherapist.

So she's constantly amazing me and always raising the bar.

Drive and ambition is very much a family trait.

Already on this journey,

the memories of his childhood are flooding back.

-How are you feeling?

-I honestly have not been around here for 20 years.

-Goodness me! Do you still think of it as home?

-It'll always be home.

So yeah, coming back, naturally, will revive mixed emotions,

to say the least.

This is a particularly poignant and sad journey for Michael.

His older brother Mark, whom he's always looked up to, and who grew up

alongside him in this neighbourhood, passed away suddenly this year.

Losing my brother, a few months ago, at the age of 40, unexpectedly,

you know, there's going to be emotions,

there's going to be several emotions coming through, where we would stand

at that bus stop, on the way to school, get the number 83,

or number 52 bus.

It's emotional.

We've arrived at our destination,

the north-west London estate the family moved to when Michael was 11.

-This is you.

-This is... This is us, this is me.

-It was a nice little community then, wasn't it?

-Very much so, yeah.

And everyone knew everyone. And that's it.

How will Michael feel, coming back to the house where

he once shared a room with Mark, the big brother he used to idolise?

-So, this was it.

-This was it.

Same door. Same windows. Same tree.

-You all right?

-Yeah, good. Good, good.

Just I knew this would be quite emotive, coming back here.

I'm sure my brother's looking down and smiling because we had

some fantastic memories here, we truly did.

To be brought up in this environment,

maybe had some challenges, but we had a great role model in my mum.

And family members. My mum planted that tree.

-Did she really?

-30-odd years ago.

-Gosh! Is it nice to be back?

It's amazing to be back and I'm appreciative of you taking me

back here. I was very trepidatious about today.

But what gives me a sense of pride in the emotions is that

there's a young family in that house.

-That was Mark, my mum and I, 30 years ago.

-Mm.

So, it's one where it fills your heart, there's another

generation hopefully following our paths, in terms of living here.

-Shall we have a little wander round?

-Let's do it. Absolutely.

-Come on then.

-Great.

For Michael, returning to the estate where he spent many happy

hours with his brother Mark is bringing back lots of memories.

The two were inseparable and they were both football mad.

I've got images of my brother and I in our Argentina and Brazil

-shirts walking up here.

-Who did you want to be?

-Oh, Pele!

-Or John Barnes, at the time.

-So this was the grass where you played on.

-This is the grass, yeah.

-So you could actually see Wembley from here then, couldn't you?

-Wembley will be just over there.

-Gotcha.

Many young lads dream of playing of Wembley,

but Michael actually did it.

His talent and ambition as a footballer led to him playing

in two All-England youth matches.

On the field, he tested his skills against other up-and-coming

players like Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard.

-What was that like?

-It was very emotional for my parents,

being able to see me play at Wembley Stadium a couple of occasions.

You look back, you know, as a 15-year-old and it's something you've done.

Football came easy, it came naturally,

and it was just something I was just expected to do.

A career as a professional footballer offered the promise

of fame, fortune and the respect of millions, and as a teenager,

Michael followed that dream.

So, you obviously concentrated a lot on your football.

-How were you at school?

-I wasn't brave enough.

You know, I wasn't focused enough, in terms of realising that I

-could be a great sportsman and actually embrace education.

-Right.

I was given a good opportunity there and just didn't embrace it.

Shall we go back to school?

-Let's go back to school.

-Come on then.

Let's do it.

Returning to the house where he grew up

has clearly been an emotional experience for Michael.

I'm hoping it's also strengthened his desire to give something back.

Coming up, our team have been on the hunt for a deserving young

person, whose story will really hit home with Michael.

And we think we've found them.

Like Michael, this remarkable young woman

has plenty of drive and ambition.

She's been told we're making a programme about dealing with

disability and has no idea she could be in line for a life-changing gift.

I've brought Michael back to Kingsbury High School, where

his career as a footballer took off, to the detriment of his schoolwork.

-So, when was the last time you were here?

-About 15 years ago.

A great school. I had a fantastic time here.

It's fair to say that you did more sport here than anything else.

Yeah, because I literally look over there and that's where the

sports field is. That's where I spent most of my time.

If it was winter, we weren't allowed on the fields.

This is where we'd play football.

-We used to have a basketball net up there.

-Right.

-What does it feel like, being back here?

-There's so many memories coming back.

Do you wish you'd studied harder here?

Look, I wish I had a full set of hair.

It's one of those where it didn't happen.

Michael may not have applied himself at school, but he's made up for it since.

It's taken years of hard work and determination for him to

become the successful businessman he is today.

I think really because of the fact that I coasted through school

and I got what I deserved, I got one GCSE, that's what drove me,

so again, I wouldn't go back and say I wish I had done something

different because I wouldn't be the same Michael here today.

Listen, I think we can actually go in to the school.

If I was to say - any teachers you wouldn't mind bumping into

-when you're in there?

-Aled, I think there's a few teachers I would like to avoid.

-Uh-oh.

-So, let's have a look.

-Come on then.

-Bring it.

Michael doesn't know it, but we've arranged a surprise reunion

with someone who had a long-lasting influence on his life.

I think there might be somebody in here that wants to see you.

Go on, after you.

-Michael, how are you?

-How are you?

I'm very good.

So good to see you.

You look really well.

Mr Sauberts was Michael's head of year at Kingsbury.

He did his best to guide Michael through his time at school,

but at times, it was an uphill struggle.

-So, he's been telling me he was an all right student here.

-Yeah.

Could have done better. Could have done better.

But you had other fish to fry. You had the football.

Sport was very easy and I look back in hindsight at yourself,

trying to get me to focus.

Yeah, all my good advice, all those things I said to you in this assembly hall.

Mr Sauberts' good advice unfortunately fell on deaf ears.

Michael's school report was so bad one year that his mum cancelled

a planned football trial with Queens Park Rangers to teach him a lesson.

First few years, he had a hotline to my mum, in terms of phone calls.

-Did she ever have to come in?

-Yeah, she was concerned.

She was worried cos you weren't academically living up to what you could have done.

You are a lot smaller than I remember because when I first met Mr Sauberts as an 11-year-old,

he was like a giant and he had this booming voice.

-Did you do a lot of shouting, did you?

-I had to talk authoritatively.

Pastoral care, I like to say. But really took time,

trying to get me to become more of a well-rounded person and as

an 11-year-old or a 15-year-old, 16-year-old,

I thought I knew better.

Ironically, it was only after he left school that Michael

began to realise the importance of his old teacher's guidance.

As soon as I left Kingsbury and went into a working environment at

a professional football club, I wasn't protected. A lot of the advice that you've given

me has absolutely stuck true and thank you so much.

How amazing.

Mr Sauberts has a surprise for Michael.

A memento of his old schooldays.

I've just got a little photo here, which you know this photo cos

it's in the yearbook which we produced, but it does take you back.

-Oh, I had hair!

-You haven't changed a bit, you know!

You really haven't! Only the hair, that's it!

-Gosh!

-Mm. Yeah. Good times.

Back home, I've got constant school reports which you had to sign off on

and every report was - "Michael could do better,

"Michael could fulfil his potential."

At school, Michael knew being a good student wouldn't impress his mates.

Most of the time, he downplayed his intelligence and slipped into

the easy role of classroom clown.

For me, there was an element of peer pressure.

There was a class with Mrs Woodrow, who was a PE teacher,

and I was in the back of the class, like I normally did,

goofing around, and Mrs Woodrow said, "What are the

"demographics difference between rugby league and rugby union fans?"

And everyone kept quiet and I put my hand up and, "Yes, Michael?"

Expecting something.

And I said, "Well, rugby league is more working class, northern-based

"sport, whereas rugby union is more middle class, more affluent."

And she just shook her head and said, "You've wasted yourself."

And that's one thing which really sort of sticks with

me because I wasn't brave enough to basically try and break a stereotype

and sit in the front of the class and answer questions, you know?

Michael never forgot his old teacher's words.

Alongside his business,

Michael's also involved in a number of charities and community projects.

Helping others today is something close to his heart.

Coming back here, has it reinforced in you that desire to really

want to give something back?

Absolutely, I don't think you actually realise the profound

impact you've had on people like me and various other students

throughout their career.

And from my point of view, being able to give back to somebody else

is what Mr Sauberts did with me,

there have been role models who throughout my journey,

whilst they may not have impacted me there and then in that instance,

they've had a profound effect, so again, it's been so good to see you.

This is just absolutely... I'm lost for words.

Bringing Michael back to the place where he grew up

has summoned up powerful recollections of his childhood.

-You all right?

-Yeah, good. Good, good.

Just I knew this would be quite emotive, coming back here.

I'm sure my brother is looking down and smiling because we had

some fantastic memories here.

It's also reminded him of decisions he made as a teenager that

would define the course of his life for years to come.

At school, I wasn't brave enough, in terms of realising that I

-could be a great sportsman and actually embrace education.

-Right.

But most importantly, it's helped focus his mind on giving back.

From my point of view, being able to give back to somebody else is what Mr Sauberts did with me.

Bringing Michael back to his old stomping ground

has reminded him how far he's come.

His life today is a far cry from that of his childhood, but it

really is the driving force behind him wanting to help someone today.

Of course, there are many people who could benefit from Michael's

generosity, but we think we've found somebody whose story will

really resonate with him.

Holly is a student at Coventry University.

She's been blind from birth, but she's never let that stop her

from living an independent and full life.

She's travelled the world and has a website of her own where she

shares her experiences of living with blindness.

Holly's worked hard in life to overcome stereotypes and it's

this drive and determination which we think will strike

a chord with Michael.

I'm off to meet Holly.

When I heard about her story, it really inspired me.

She's a very determined young lady, from what I've heard.

So hopefully, she doesn't give me too much of a hard time, but looking forward to it.

Holly thinks we're making a programme about living with disability and overcoming adversity.

She has no idea she could be in for a life-changing gift.

-Hello. Holly?

-Hi.

-Hi, I'm Michael. How are you?

-Hi. Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

-So, what's your friend called?

-Isla.

-Hello, Isla. How old is she?

-Five.

Holly, it's lovely meeting you. So, tell me a little bit about you.

I'm 22, I'm originally from York,

-but I'm studying at Coventry University.

-What are you studying?

-Spanish.

-Where did the interest come out to study Spanish?

I actually took A-level history and I studied the conquest of the

New World, which made me quite interested in Latin America

and I took a year out and I moved to Spain,

so I could learn it and then come and do it at university.

Hold on, so you just decided - take a year out and go to Spain?

Yeah, I've never lived in another country before.

I didn't really know what I was doing, barely spoke any Spanish,

and I just thought, "Well, I'll just give it a go."

And how was that, just in terms of being in a foreign country?

I found it actually great. I had lots of support from La ONCE,

that's basically the biggest organisation for the blind in Spain.

-OK.

-When I arrived, they gave me orientation and mobility support.

The language school were really great.

They sent me scanned copies of my books and things like that,

so actually it worked out really, really well.

Just from speaking to you for a couple of minutes,

your personality, your enthusiasm, your drive is really infectious.

Where did this resolute drive come from?

Because my parents had brought me up to be exactly the same as my older sister. She's fully sighted.

I didn't realise that in society's mind,

blind people weren't supposed to do things.

I had certain things adapted.

I used Braille in school and things like that,

but beyond the necessities, I was just a child and I was allowed to be

a child and it really took me a long time before I met other blind

people and realised that wasn't how other people were brought up

and that actually wasn't how society viewed me.

Holly was lucky to grow up in a family that celebrated her

abilities and helped her achieve her full potential.

But outside the nurturing environment of her home,

she found that other people focused on her disability.

When did you first encounter some form of discrimination?

Actually, I would say the worst discrimination in many ways

came from adults. For example, I was probably around seven or eight.

I was in the school choir.

We were doing kind of a Christmas event, we were singing,

and we were all dressed up and we were carrying, you know, those

-lanterns that you put a small candle in and they have a door in them?

-Yes.

So, perfectly safe and every child was allowed to carry one, except me.

And I remember asking - why can't I? It was just, "Well, you can't. You're blind. You can't do it."

I was just like - well, I can carry it, I'm allowed to do things at home.

And I just remember arguing and like trying to explain and

it's harder when you're a child because you don't know what

discrimination is, you don't know that word when you're seven or eight,

but you know what it feels like and it's so hard to articulate

when you're a child that this thing is happening to you.

How did that make you feel as an eight-year-old?

I think, honestly, most of what it made feel was just helpless

because for the first time I realised that actually maybe I couldn't do things,

not because I couldn't but because other people wouldn't allow me to.

Being pigeonholed by other people is something Michael can totally relate to.

As a young black man, growing up on a tough London estate,

he felt limited avenues were open to him.

I wasn't as strong or as brave as you because I conformed and actually

thought that my only option was to play sport,

so I played professional sports, soccer, when I was growing up.

It was only when I was in my late teens,

early 20s, that I realised that I could actually achieve more.

I wanted to go to university, I wanted to read books,

I wanted to travel, but certainly within my peer group at the

time, growing up in London, that wasn't necessarily supportive.

Did you find growing up as a teenager was

a little bit more challenging, in terms of people's stereotypes?

Yeah, and I found that it's very easy to blame yourself for

things or hold yourself responsible for society's perceptions of

you, so I grew up and I didn't want to use a cane,

I didn't want to be visibly blind because I felt that by doing

-those things then I would experience that judgment.

-Trying to blend in.

Yeah, and you fall into this culture where essentially you want to

erase the part of yourself that is different, or that doesn't comply

with what people think you should be and I wouldn't use the word

"blind" to describe myself, I would always describe myself as "visually impaired", for example.

-Right.

-Whereas now, I embrace the term "blind" as part of my identity,

for a long time, it was a struggle because I associated that

with people's negative perceptions of me.

And I got to a point where I just thought - what am I doing to

myself? And that's really hard to...

When you're the person who is basically stopping yourself from doing things in the end,

it's so hard to fight that because you essentially have to sit

down with yourself and have a pretty hard conversation,

so you need to change things, otherwise you will just not live.

The busy, independent life that Holly leads today is proof of

her success in overcoming society's stereotype about what

a blind person can achieve.

She's now working hard to make such stereotypes a thing of the past.

Like Michael, she believes in helping others.

You work with other disabled people to work with and deal with

some of the issues which they're presented with and the

discrimination they receive?

I have, with a group of disabled people, set up an organisation which

is tackling domestic and sexual violence against disabled people.

-Oh, wow!

-We're called Disabled Survivors Unite.

We consider people who have experienced domestic and

sexual violence to be survivors, rather than victims.

So many people have already reached out to us and said,

"We really need you.

"This is a service that just isn't in existence,"

and we are looking at obtaining charitable status.

At the moment, we are all kind of pulling all our expertise together.

-Yeah.

-So there's just five of us doing what we can.

What type of support would help to take the work that you're

doing to the fore?

Well, right now, we're looking to raise our start-up cost,

so we're trying to literally raise what I call just complete

minimum cost to allow us to travel to conferences and put our

website together, things like that.

But what we really need after that is advice, I guess,

on a business plan going forward cos we're all fairly young and

we've never done anything like this before,

but we really want it to be successful.

Having heard Holly's inspirational story,

Michael is keen to find out what he can do to help her.

In terms of the funding piece, what's the target for you to

sort of reach your minimum requirements, as it were?

Right now, we're literally looking to raise £1,000.

And then the second part is maybe a form of mentor or just

somebody who's got experience with charities, setting them up,

the legislation involved as well.

-We really just need as much advice and help as we can get.

-OK.

-I've really enjoyed meeting you today.

-Me too.

And hopefully have the chance to sort of see you develop and

grow the website.

Thank you. It's been really nice to meet you too.

-Take care.

-You too.

-See you later. Bye-bye.

-Bye.

This was an important meeting for Michael.

He was looking for someone with drive and ambition and in

Holly, I think he's found just that.

She's had so much adversity put in her way,

but the fact that she's smashed through any prejudice or

misconceived perceptions around blind people has truly inspired me.

Hopefully, the gift that I can give her

will certainly help her on her way.

It's clear that Holly has made a big impression on Michael,

but before he can decide HOW he can help her, he's going to talk through

this important decision with his friend and fellow entrepreneur,

Tim Campbell.

I just spent the most incredible time with a lady called Holly.

She was born visually impaired.

She is at Coventry University studying Spanish.

She went to Spain last year just off a whim to say,

-"Look, I want to learn Spanish..."

-She just did it.

-..and she went.

That's similar to you, though.

You'll have something that you want to do and you'll just make it happen

so there must have been a connection there on some level.

There was a huge connection.

This lady, she's got drive, she's got enthusiasm

and she wouldn't let her disability and the negative stereotypes

-that people have of disability to impact her life.

-Yeah.

She set up a charity which deals with disabled people who are

the victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

It made me feel quite inferior, to be honest.

The problems that I have of being slightly overweight

and having no hair...

-They pale in comparison.

-Exactly.

And that's the thing where this person,

-in a very short period of time, has just changed me.

-Yeah.

I've got so much respect and admiration that I want to be

able to help her.

What's causing the pause then, because you're quite a decisive guy?

-What's the concern or worry?

-There's no concern, per se.

I'm just trying to think about what type of things I could do.

What do you think she needs, then?

What have you seen in her that you could potentially assist with?

With the charity, that's something I can help with

and certainly be able to introduce her to people who are

passionate about that.

There's a business plan in terms of cash flow,

marketing the website which would help her.

We could also connect her with professionals who can do that too.

But there's more.

I don't want to just write a cheque and, at the end of the project,

walk away.

I want to be able to leave something which will enable her to

build and develop.

I suppose you've got the two different sides, haven't you?

-You've got the Holly person...

-Yeah.

-..and Holly business.

-Yeah.

And obviously they're linked, but they can be separated out.

That's the bit you've got to decide now.

How much do you want to give to her as

a business person and then how much can you support her as

a person, where she can then develop and grow in her own right

and you can look around and say,

-"I was helpful in that journey, but now look at her fly."

-Yeah.

Really focus on, can you help her with the business?

Then see if she's ready and receptive for all that you can bring

because you are a big force.

If you believe that she's ready for the journey as well,

you'll commit to it 100%.

It's whether or not she will see that as a positive thing,

but the ultimate person to make that decision is going to be her.

-Does that makes sense?

-No, it does.

Look, I appreciate, as always,

your guidance and I think what I need to do is sleep on it and

take some time to ensure that it makes a difference to Holly.

Fantastic.

Tim's support and advice has been crucial to Michael, but,

ultimately, only he can decide what he can offer Holly.

She's clearly impressed him,

but what can he do to make a positive contribution to her life?

I haven't seen Michael for a while,

but I do know that he's caught up with Holly.

There are so many parallels in their lives.

The main one, I suppose,

being their desire to succeed against all the odds.

They also both like helping other people,

but is Michael willing to go back and help Holly today?

Let's go and find out.

'Michael is waiting for me just around the corner from where

'Holly is meeting a friend for a drink.

'It's time to find out just what he's decided to do.'

-Hey, Michael. How are you?

-Good to see you.

-Really nice to see you.

-It's been a while.

-It's been too long.

-It has.

-And I know that you met up with Holly, didn't you?

-Yeah.

How did that go?

Aled, the hour that I spent with Holly will truly stay with me.

Really? How come?

The adversity that she has come through her entire life was

-truly inspirational.

-Did you see any parallels between your lives?

That never-give-up type mentality really sort of drew parallels

to my experience growing up in inner-city London.

You had so many obstacles in your way as well

and you just seemed to leap over them.

I had obstacles. I think with Holly, she smashes through these obstacles.

-Right.

-She has been told she couldn't do things over

a period of time and that just drove that innate drive that she has.

-She's a ball of energy. Her life is about inspiring others.

-Yeah.

She's a massive advocate for raising awareness for sexual abuse

and also physical abuse for disabled and blind people and that's

something which I'm very passionate about and certainly would

love to try and support her on her endeavours.

I've never seen you look so buzzed about something.

It's very rare in my life that I come across people that

-truly inspire me.

-Are you going to help her then?

She's helped me and absolutely I want to help her on her journey.

How are you going to do that?

Look, this is an investment on someone who's going to

achieve massive things in her life.

So I think one of the first pieces that I'm looking to do is set up the

charity officially, which will be looking to pay all the legal fees.

We will also be looking to invest a year's worth of operating costs, so

this will cover transport, events, media, but we're also going to build

up their website, and, in essence,

support the charity for the first 12 months of its existence.

That sounds like it's going to cost a lot of money.

It can be anything from £5,000 to £8,000 in terms of that

-initial investment.

-Wow!

My goodness me, she has made a huge impact on you, hasn't she?

That's very, very generous of you, Michael.

Look, this is just the beginning.

I want to be part of Holly's life moving forward and if it's

a case of Holly wants that mentorship from myself and wants

additional help, I will look to be able to do that over

-a longer period of time.

-That's so fantastic of you.

Have you put all these thoughts and ideas of yours in a letter?

-I have. It's in my breast pocket.

-Ready to go.

-Ready to go.

Listen, I think she's around here somewhere

-so I think we should give her the good news.

-Looking forward to it.

Come on, let's go and surprise her.

'This is Michael's big moment -

'revealing to Holly what he's really been up to.'

So Holly and Ellie are just enjoying the sunshine around the corner.

-How are you feeling?

-Nervous.

-I'm really nervous as well.

I've been here before, but very nervous.

'Holly has no idea what's about to happen.

'Just how will she react?'

Hi, morning.

-How are you?

-Hi.

-I'm Aled from the BBC.

-Hi.

-Really nice to see you.

-Hi, Ellie, how are you?

-Nice to meet you.

-Hello, you!

-Sorry about the dog!

-Oh, I love the dog. Listen, you thought we were making

a programme about living with disability.

It's not the full story. I've got Michael here with me, as well,

who you know, of course.

Over to you, Michael.

I just wanted to say, last week was one of the most emotional but

also inspirational moments that I've had.

You're truly a wonderful individual and I'm very keen to help you

on your journey.

Now, I've written a letter down because if I talk I might cry!

No, don't cry. Oh, no, I'm so awkward. Don't cry.

I might cry, so I'm going to pass the letter over to your friend.

I hope you can read my writing.

'Holly, I'd like to say thank you for taking the time to meet me

'and share your story with me.

'You are one of the most inspirational people that

'I've had the chance to meet and your drive,

'motivation and passion for life deserve to be commended.

'Opening up opportunities for professional and personal

'development to people of all backgrounds is something I'm

'really passionate about,

'which is the reason why I'd like to invest in your future.

'Firstly, I'm going to help you establish the

'Disabled Survivors Unite charity by covering all the legal costs

'and all the legal paperwork.

'Then I will cover the first 12 months' operating costs and fund

'the development of the website by a professional web designer,

'including the services of the copywriter to produce content.'

Oh, my God!

'I'd love to invite you to run a workshop with some of my clients

'in the City on the challenges facing disabled people

'and how everyone is responsible for changing the narratives

'surrounding disability.

'Finally, I'm going to assign you a professional fundraising mentor

'to develop your own fundraising skill set.

'This isn't a donation,

'but an investment in you in order the challenge the ongoing

'discrimination of disabled people and, most importantly,

'to give everyone the opportunity to have a voice.

'I'm looking forward to working with you. All the best, Michael.'

-Oh, my God. Thank you.

-Can I give you a cuddle? Can I give you a hug?

-Yes!

-Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-How do you feel about this?

I'm just kind of surprised.

Your face was a picture, honestly.

Your jaw was hitting the floor.

It's not very often Holly's lost for words, so I'll take that...

I don't know how to feel that you know that already(!)

What difference will this make?

This is going to make, like, such a difference,

because it's not just for me.

It's for everyone who's running this charity with me

and for all the people that hopefully we'll reach as well.

Oh, my God!

Your story last week, Holly, was just so inspirational to me

and I'm so proud and hopefully honoured to be working with you.

-Thank you.

-Are you happy?

-Yeah.

-On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you?

-I don't know.

I'm just so, like, surprised.

-A nice surprise?

-Yeah.

-Oh, good. I'm really, really glad.

Good luck with everything that you do in the future.

You've had a huge impact on Michael and I'm sure you'll have an

impact on many people in the future as well. Nice to see you, guys.

All the best. Bye-bye.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

That's amazing.

So good.

I was really, really surprised.

I still am surprised.

Obviously really happy too, but I think just more, like, shocked.

It has been truly one of those incredible journeys that I've

been on and certainly to be able to end that off with making an

investment in Holly and the charity has definitely been

a very exciting experience for me.

So what difference will it make when you're at uni now?

I don't even know. I can't even imagine.

It's just going to be like...

Having the professional support is going to...

mean I can actually do everything to make the organisation better

and I don't have to worry that it's new and I might do something wrong.

It's just going to make it so much better.

She's done such good work so it's really nice that she's been

recognised for that.

I'm so proud of her and I'm sure that she's just beaming inside.

She's just so shocked at the moment. She had no idea.

Finding out that I would have support to set up Disabled Survivors

Unite is kind of incredible because it will really enable us to

reach people who we may never have had the opportunity to reach before,

and that, for our organisation,

that's so important that we are able to do that.

What amazing people Michael and Holly are.

They've both had to overcome so many obstacles in life, but,

you know, neither of them have let others' prejudice get them down

or hinder their ambition and drive.

And now, thanks to Michael helping Holly,

she can go on and inspire others to be the best they can.

She's living proof that anything is possible in life.