Perthshire Advertiser

Social enterprise helps boost teens’ life skills

Tim is doing his bit

- Staff reporter

A Perthshire man is helping youngsters build their selfconfid­ence during the Year of Young People.

Tim Mart (39) set up the social enterprise Know You More over two years ago.

Believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland, Know You More uses virtual platforms to teach real life skills to 18 to 30 year-olds with the aim of boosting their career chances by developing their selfconfid­ence, resilience, decisionma­king and other ‘soft’ skills.

Profits are then ploughed back into charitable organisati­ons that help young people for whom life is challengin­g.

Tim, from Milnathort, worked with London-based Chirag Metha to bring Know You More to life.

The pair can already count the St Andrew’s and Edinburgh Napier universiti­es and property firm Thorntons as groups that use his services. They can also rely on a network of 100 coaches throughout the UK.

Former bank workers Tim said: “I was earning a good salary but something just wasn’t right.

“I gained a profession­al coaching qualificat­ion but soon realised that most courses were aimed at senior managers, whereas my interest lay in supporting young people.

“The fact that all the coaching is delivered virtually means that geography is not an issue.

“Consequent­ly, it’s a very affordable solution as it saves on time and travel.”

In the past two years, profits from Know You More helped youth developmen­t projects in a number of charities and next month it is to begin working with the Aberdeen Foyer, which supports disadvanta­ged young people – some of whom are even facing homelessne­ss – throughout the north east of Scotland.

For more informatio­n, visit www.knowyoumor­e.com or contact tim@knowyoumor­e.com. Tim Mart pictured with students at Glasgow Caledonian University (Pic: Alice Bellini).

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Confidence boost

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