Apprentice winner inspires Canning Town homeless charity

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Tuesday, October 16, 2012
7:00 AM

Apprentice winner Tim Campbell MBE visited east London homelessness charity to inspire the residents to fulfil their dreams.

Tim, 35, was born in Plaistow – just down the road from Anchor House in Canning Town, the most deprived ward in the third most deprived borough in the country. He visited 55 homeless residents in Anchor House to speak to them about the journey he has taken to get where he is, and motivating them with the statement that “everyone in this room can make it happen.”

He talked about setting achievable, realistic and measurable targets to reach their goals, with tips on attitude, self-belief, and saving money saying “to save money you need to print a picture of what you want, visualise it and make it happen”.

“Things are only achieved with a very clear focus to measure against.”

Anchor House provide a wide range of accredited vocational training courses for both residents and the local unemployed. Tim encouraged the residents to embrace the services offered and to act to achieve, saying that “Everything happens for a reason. You have a choice and that’s to act and change.”

Since winning The Apprentice, Tim has gone on to found ‘Bright Ideas Trust’, a charitable social enterprise which encourages budding entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds to start business ventures. He was awarded an MBE in February 2012 for his efforts to encourage enterprise.

Femi, a resident, employed at Anchor House – said: “I have a new definition of entrepreneur now, as someone who is ready to take a risk.”

Bruk, who has been living at Anchor House for three months, said: “Speaking to Tim was inspirational, and motivational. He was very humble and it was a privilege to meet him.”