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Small Steps and Giant Leaps | Katie Tucker | TEDxWycliffeCollege


[Applause]

[Applause] it was on the 20th of July 1969 that

it was on the 20th of July 1969 that

it was on the 20th of July 1969 that Neil Armstrong uttered those famous

Neil Armstrong uttered those famous

Neil Armstrong uttered those famous words one small step for man one giant

words one small step for man one giant

words one small step for man one giant leap for mankind

leap for mankind

leap for mankind I recently learned that he actually

I recently learned that he actually

I recently learned that he actually meant to say a small step for a man

meant to say a small step for a man

meant to say a small step for a man giant leap for mankind you know that

giant leap for mankind you know that

giant leap for mankind you know that quote has always intrigued me

quote has always intrigued me

quote has always intrigued me I’ve always wondered how is it that the

I’ve always wondered how is it that the

I’ve always wondered how is it that the actions of one person can impact

actions of one person can impact

actions of one person can impact generations can impact thousands and

generations can impact thousands and

generations can impact thousands and millions of others and actually as we

millions of others and actually as we

millions of others and actually as we look throughout history we can see that

look throughout history we can see that

look throughout history we can see that pattern emerging one small act of

pattern emerging one small act of

pattern emerging one small act of defiance from someone not wanting to

defiance from someone not wanting to

defiance from someone not wanting to give up their seat on a bus leads to the

give up their seat on a bus leads to the

give up their seat on a bus leads to the movement which Martin Luther King

movement which Martin Luther King

movement which Martin Luther King spearheaded we see incredible acts

spearheaded we see incredible acts

spearheaded we see incredible acts throughout history happening because of

throughout history happening because of

throughout history happening because of small steps taken by individuals and we

small steps taken by individuals and we

small steps taken by individuals and we see great moments of significance come

see great moments of significance come

see great moments of significance come about as a result you know that’s what I

about as a result you know that’s what I

about as a result you know that’s what I think has spurred us on at

think has spurred us on at

think has spurred us on at treasure-seekers is the concept of

treasure-seekers is the concept of

treasure-seekers is the concept of significance when we try and pursue

significance when we try and pursue

significance when we try and pursue significance small acts really make a

significance small acts really make a

significance small acts really make a difference we can achieve significance

difference we can achieve significance

difference we can achieve significance significance being impacting other

significance being impacting other

significance being impacting other people changing the world’s changing the

people changing the world’s changing the

people changing the world’s changing the world around you significance is far

world around you significance is far

world around you significance is far greater than success success is about

greater than success success is about

greater than success success is about what you can get and is about what’s

what you can get and is about what’s

what you can get and is about what’s good for you significance is about what

good for you significance is about what

good for you significance is about what you can do for others and about the

you can do for others and about the

you can do for others and about the legacy that you leave now for me and my

legacy that you leave now for me and my

legacy that you leave now for me and my husband that’s what’s really spurred us

husband that’s what’s really spurred us

husband that’s what’s really spurred us on

on

on our journey of creating and setting up a

our journey of creating and setting up a

our journey of creating and setting up a social enterprise along with my mum and

social enterprise along with my mum and

social enterprise along with my mum and others as well we wanted to create

others as well we wanted to create

others as well we wanted to create something that would be significant that

something that would be significant that

something that would be significant that would impact the lives of others and I

would impact the lives of others and I

would impact the lives of others and I would love to be able to say that we did

would love to be able to say that we did

would love to be able to say that we did it through lots of really really great

it through lots of really really great

it through lots of really really great things lots of big acts but we got some

things lots of big acts but we got some

things lots of big acts but we got some really big investors involved and we did

really big investors involved and we did

really big investors involved and we did that we did some high-profile stuff

that we did some high-profile stuff

that we did some high-profile stuff actually we started with those small

actually we started with those small

actually we started with those small steps we founded a Kingfisher treasure

steps we founded a Kingfisher treasure

steps we founded a Kingfisher treasure seekers in 2012 and we had a vision to

seekers in 2012 and we had a vision to

seekers in 2012 and we had a vision to set up an organization that would

set up an organization that would

set up an organization that would support the disadvantaged and the

support the disadvantaged and the

support the disadvantaged and the vulnerable and initially we have a

vulnerable and initially we have a

vulnerable and initially we have a vision to set them up set up a retail

vision to set them up set up a retail

vision to set them up set up a retail environment where people could gain

environment where people could gain

environment where people could gain valuable work experience so that they no

valuable work experience so that they no

valuable work experience so that they no longer have the barrier of trying to

longer have the barrier of trying to

longer have the barrier of trying to apply for work and people saying well

apply for work and people saying well

apply for work and people saying well you haven’t got experience and they’re

you haven’t got experience and they’re

you haven’t got experience and they’re saying but I can’t get experience

saying but I can’t get experience

saying but I can’t get experience because no one will give me a job so we

because no one will give me a job so we

because no one will give me a job so we thought we could break that cycle and so

thought we could break that cycle and so

thought we could break that cycle and so my husband went out and started selling

my husband went out and started selling

my husband went out and started selling things on market soles in the middle of

things on market soles in the middle of

things on market soles in the middle of winter in the summer he’d be out there

winter in the summer he’d be out there

winter in the summer he’d be out there on market stalls selling things taking

on market stalls selling things taking

on market stalls selling things taking volunteers with him to give them an

volunteers with him to give them an

volunteers with him to give them an experience of retail and you know for us

experience of retail and you know for us

experience of retail and you know for us this idea was a bit like a mustard seed

this idea was a bit like a mustard seed

this idea was a bit like a mustard seed it was for us it felt small it felt

it was for us it felt small it felt

it was for us it felt small it felt insignificant it felt like we weren’t

insignificant it felt like we weren’t

insignificant it felt like we weren’t making a difference for us it felt like

making a difference for us it felt like

making a difference for us it felt like we were making the small list of steps

we were making the small list of steps

we were making the small list of steps that we were trying to achieve something

that we were trying to achieve something

that we were trying to achieve something that was far bigger than we could even

that was far bigger than we could even

that was far bigger than we could even imagine at the time and we felt just

imagine at the time and we felt just

imagine at the time and we felt just like the mustard seed which is one of

like the mustard seed which is one of

like the mustard seed which is one of the smallest

the smallest

the smallest all seeds to look at it’s not a lot but

all seeds to look at it’s not a lot but

all seeds to look at it’s not a lot but we persevered and we learnt a lot and we

we persevered and we learnt a lot and we

we persevered and we learnt a lot and we grew a lot we learn what products sell

grew a lot we learn what products sell

grew a lot we learn what products sell what do people like buying we learnt

what do people like buying we learnt

what do people like buying we learnt what how best to work alongside

what how best to work alongside

what how best to work alongside vulnerable adults that we were working

vulnerable adults that we were working

vulnerable adults that we were working with and most heartening of all were

with and most heartening of all were

with and most heartening of all were seeing lives already start to change was

seeing lives already start to change was

seeing lives already start to change was seeing people starting to realize that

seeing people starting to realize that

seeing people starting to realize that they could take their place in community

they could take their place in community

they could take their place in community life that they had got something to

life that they had got something to

life that they had got something to offer they have got something to give

we’ve that not long after that managed

we’ve that not long after that managed to get some investments so that we could

to get some investments so that we could

to get some investments so that we could open up a retail shop in Gloucester

open up a retail shop in Gloucester

open up a retail shop in Gloucester giving a better quality work experience

giving a better quality work experience

giving a better quality work experience for people that we will work alongside

for people that we will work alongside

for people that we will work alongside which was fantastic and from there we’ve

which was fantastic and from there we’ve

which was fantastic and from there we’ve grown and grown and grown in a fast

grown and grown and grown in a fast

grown and grown and grown in a fast forward five years today we have just

forward five years today we have just

forward five years today we have just taken on our third building we have over

taken on our third building we have over

taken on our third building we have over 20 members of staff we work with

20 members of staff we work with

20 members of staff we work with thousands of people each year but it’s

thousands of people each year but it’s

thousands of people each year but it’s all started with small steps small steps

all started with small steps small steps

all started with small steps small steps wanting to do something significant and

wanting to do something significant and

wanting to do something significant and with every small step we have seen that

with every small step we have seen that

with every small step we have seen that lives being changed you know when we

lives being changed you know when we

lives being changed you know when we first opened our shop in Gloucester we

first opened our shop in Gloucester we

first opened our shop in Gloucester we had people in tears on the phone saying

had people in tears on the phone saying

had people in tears on the phone saying that they never thought they would get

that they never thought they would get

that they never thought they would get this opportunity to have a work

this opportunity to have a work

this opportunity to have a work experience placement for us what we felt

experience placement for us what we felt

experience placement for us what we felt was an insignificant drop in the ocean

was an insignificant drop in the ocean

was an insignificant drop in the ocean of need that we could see actually to

of need that we could see actually to

of need that we could see actually to them it utterly changed their lives for

them it utterly changed their lives for

them it utterly changed their lives for us we felt like we weren’t achieving

us we felt like we weren’t achieving

us we felt like we weren’t achieving very much at all

that’s the difference between success

that’s the difference between success and significance success measures

and significance success measures

and significance success measures achievement by what you get out of it

achievement by what you get out of it

achievement by what you get out of it significant measures achievement by what

significant measures achievement by what

significant measures achievement by what others get out of her and in our journey

others get out of her and in our journey

others get out of her and in our journey we have seen so many moments of

we have seen so many moments of

we have seen so many moments of significance but I wanted to share to

significance but I wanted to share to

significance but I wanted to share to you tonight one particular moment one

you tonight one particular moment one

you tonight one particular moment one particular journey that inspires me

particular journey that inspires me

particular journey that inspires me inspires me to want to do more and to do

inspires me to want to do more and to do

inspires me to want to do more and to do better and that was at the experience of

better and that was at the experience of

better and that was at the experience of setting up a coffee shop where that

setting up a coffee shop where that

setting up a coffee shop where that happened a few years ago we bought a

happened a few years ago we bought a

happened a few years ago we bought a building in gloucester city center and

building in gloucester city center and

building in gloucester city center and it has a basement that no one would

it has a basement that no one would

it has a basement that no one would venture into it was damp

venture into it was damp

venture into it was damp it was dank it was horrible it’s melts

it was dank it was horrible it’s melts

it was dank it was horrible it’s melts you could smell it probably from about

you could smell it probably from about

you could smell it probably from about three streets away it was awful

three streets away it was awful

three streets away it was awful we were toying with using it for storage

we were toying with using it for storage

we were toying with using it for storage but mmm you know it probably wasn’t even

but mmm you know it probably wasn’t even

but mmm you know it probably wasn’t even good enough for that so we ignored it we

good enough for that so we ignored it we

good enough for that so we ignored it we shut the door we locked it away thought

shut the door we locked it away thought

shut the door we locked it away thought well touch that another time one day we

well touch that another time one day we

well touch that another time one day we were talking to a group of young people

were talking to a group of young people

were talking to a group of young people who were shaving about how they have

who were shaving about how they have

who were shaving about how they have nowhere to go sharing their frustrations

nowhere to go sharing their frustrations

nowhere to go sharing their frustrations that there was nowhere available for

that there was nowhere available for

that there was nowhere available for them to go of an evening of a day in

them to go of an evening of a day in

them to go of an evening of a day in Gloucester and somehow we ended up

Gloucester and somehow we ended up

Gloucester and somehow we ended up showing them the dreaded basements and

showing them the dreaded basements and

showing them the dreaded basements and this group of young people absolutely

this group of young people absolutely

this group of young people absolutely fell in love with it they saw the

fell in love with it they saw the

fell in love with it they saw the potential in this space I mean that

potential in this space I mean that

potential in this space I mean that picture looks pretty decent compared to

picture looks pretty decent compared to

picture looks pretty decent compared to what it was you’re not getting the smell

what it was you’re not getting the smell

what it was you’re not getting the smell they store it fall in love with it they

they store it fall in love with it they

they store it fall in love with it they had a glimmer of an idea this mustard

had a glimmer of an idea this mustard

had a glimmer of an idea this mustard seed

seed

seed an idea that something could happen they

an idea that something could happen they

an idea that something could happen they didn’t know what we didn’t know what so

didn’t know what we didn’t know what so

didn’t know what we didn’t know what so we said to them and groups of others

we said to them and groups of others

we said to them and groups of others well if you will come and help us we’ll

well if you will come and help us we’ll

well if you will come and help us we’ll see what we can do so twice a week

see what we can do so twice a week

see what we can do so twice a week groups of us would get together and take

groups of us would get together and take

groups of us would get together and take our small steps we would pull rotting

our small steps we would pull rotting

our small steps we would pull rotting rubble off of the wall we would scrub

rubble off of the wall we would scrub

rubble off of the wall we would scrub floors it was an old bar so it had fear

floors it was an old bar so it had fear

floors it was an old bar so it had fear of cables going through it was stale

of cables going through it was stale

of cables going through it was stale beer that had been in there for years

beer that had been in there for years

beer that had been in there for years and years and years and we removed those

and years and years and we removed those

and years and years and we removed those drenching ourselves in the process we

drenching ourselves in the process we

drenching ourselves in the process we did all sorts of things taking our small

did all sorts of things taking our small

did all sorts of things taking our small steps together and you know what’s even

steps together and you know what’s even

steps together and you know what’s even more exciting about seeing throughout

more exciting about seeing throughout

more exciting about seeing throughout history people taking small steps

history people taking small steps

history people taking small steps individually is people taking small

individually is people taking small

individually is people taking small steps together because what you can

steps together because what you can

steps together because what you can achieve is incredible for us what both

achieve is incredible for us what both

achieve is incredible for us what both small steps together meant was we opened

small steps together meant was we opened

small steps together meant was we opened one of the coolest coffee shops I

one of the coolest coffee shops I

one of the coolest coffee shops I thinking in Gloucester called the cavern

thinking in Gloucester called the cavern

thinking in Gloucester called the cavern which offers work experience again it’s

which offers work experience again it’s

which offers work experience again it’s a vulnerable and disadvantaged people it

a vulnerable and disadvantaged people it

a vulnerable and disadvantaged people it offers a safe place for young people to

offers a safe place for young people to

offers a safe place for young people to go in offers a safe place for vulnerable

go in offers a safe place for vulnerable

go in offers a safe place for vulnerable adults to go it is something that for

adults to go it is something that for

adults to go it is something that for the people using it is a giant leap it’s

the people using it is a giant leap it’s

the people using it is a giant leap it’s having significant a significant impact

having significant a significant impact

having significant a significant impact in their lives what has inspired me

in their lives what has inspired me

in their lives what has inspired me through the cabin is seeing how the

through the cabin is seeing how the

through the cabin is seeing how the actions of we had a 15 year old lad who

actions of we had a 15 year old lad who

actions of we had a 15 year old lad who used to come every single week and often

used to come every single week and often

used to come every single week and often just wire brush walls up for hours on

just wire brush walls up for hours on

just wire brush walls up for hours on ends getting them ready to be worked on

ends getting them ready to be worked on

ends getting them ready to be worked on you know his small step has led to

you know his small step has led to

you know his small step has led to a and outs of ours mental health drop

a and outs of ours mental health drop

a and outs of ours mental health drop him from being able to be opened in this

him from being able to be opened in this

him from being able to be opened in this coffee shop which mousies immerse two

coffee shop which mousies immerse two

coffee shop which mousies immerse two thousand people a month who are

thousand people a month who are

thousand people a month who are struggling with mental health problems

struggling with mental health problems

struggling with mental health problems ranging from feeling suicidal to anxiety

ranging from feeling suicidal to anxiety

ranging from feeling suicidal to anxiety to depression even paranoid

to depression even paranoid

to depression even paranoid schizophrenia this mental health support

schizophrenia this mental health support

schizophrenia this mental health support has stopped people from going to A&E has

has stopped people from going to A&E has

has stopped people from going to A&E has stopped people from being arrested and

stopped people from being arrested and

stopped people from being arrested and that was all possible because of the

that was all possible because of the

that was all possible because of the small step that this young man took and

small step that this young man took and

small step that this young man took and because of the small steps that the team

because of the small steps that the team

because of the small steps that the team that collectively took it was small

that collectively took it was small

that collectively took it was small steps for us but it’s been a giant leap

steps for us but it’s been a giant leap

steps for us but it’s been a giant leap for the mental health support and

for the mental health support and

for the mental health support and well-being for people in Gloucester

there are so many stories of people

there are so many stories of people taking small steps leading to amazing

taking small steps leading to amazing

taking small steps leading to amazing amazing things happening but I just

amazing things happening but I just

amazing things happening but I just wanted to share that for us chasing

wanted to share that for us chasing

wanted to share that for us chasing success might be good for us in the

success might be good for us in the

success might be good for us in the organization we might be able to tick

organization we might be able to tick

organization we might be able to tick our boxes and show that we are achieving

our boxes and show that we are achieving

our boxes and show that we are achieving maybe what we think we need to to show

maybe what we think we need to to show

maybe what we think we need to to show that we are serving a certain number of

that we are serving a certain number of

that we are serving a certain number of people that we’re changing a certain

people that we’re changing a certain

people that we’re changing a certain number of lives but you know that

number of lives but you know that

number of lives but you know that doesn’t lead to significance that

doesn’t lead to significance that

doesn’t lead to significance that doesn’t lead to the giant leaps for

doesn’t lead to the giant leaps for

doesn’t lead to the giant leaps for people that we’re working with what does

people that we’re working with what does

people that we’re working with what does is those small acts those small times

is those small acts those small times

is those small acts those small times even when we take those those small

even when we take those those small

even when we take those those small ideas that we think could become

ideas that we think could become

ideas that we think could become something we’ll never know until we take

something we’ll never know until we take

something we’ll never know until we take the first step we’ll never know what

the first step we’ll never know what

the first step we’ll never know what could be unless we’re willing to step

could be unless we’re willing to step

could be unless we’re willing to step out and take that step you know I wonder

out and take that step you know I wonder

out and take that step you know I wonder you know for me I often wonder what

you know for me I often wonder what

you know for me I often wonder what other ideas do I have that maybe I’m a

other ideas do I have that maybe I’m a

other ideas do I have that maybe I’m a bit worried about taking that first step

bit worried about taking that first step

bit worried about taking that first step because the end goal seems far too big

because the end goal seems far too big

because the end goal seems far too big well you know what they say about

well you know what they say about

well you know what they say about mountains they’re never going to get any

mountains they’re never going to get any

mountains they’re never going to get any closer until you start walking towards

closer until you start walking towards

closer until you start walking towards them and it’s the same with us it’s the

them and it’s the same with us it’s the

them and it’s the same with us it’s the same with our dreams it’s the same with

same with our dreams it’s the same with

same with our dreams it’s the same with those thoughts that we’ve had about what

those thoughts that we’ve had about what

those thoughts that we’ve had about what could be possible what could we do and

could be possible what could we do and

could be possible what could we do and you know if you can take those steps

you know if you can take those steps

you know if you can take those steps with others with the same vision the

with others with the same vision the

with others with the same vision the same goal anything can be possible one

same goal anything can be possible one

same goal anything can be possible one lady that we’ve been working with who

lady that we’ve been working with who

lady that we’ve been working with who has been hugely impacted by this work

has been hugely impacted by this work

has been hugely impacted by this work she was arrested almost 27 times in a

she was arrested almost 27 times in a

she was arrested almost 27 times in a two-year 18-month period in any most

two-year 18-month period in any most

two-year 18-month period in any most weeks no hope no family about to be

weeks no hope no family about to be

weeks no hope no family about to be evicted about to happen lose everything

evicted about to happen lose everything

evicted about to happen lose everything about to be on the streets on their own

about to be on the streets on their own

about to be on the streets on their own with no supports and most likely end up

with no supports and most likely end up

with no supports and most likely end up in prison what saved her was people

in prison what saved her was people

in prison what saved her was people sitting and having a coffee people being

sitting and having a coffee people being

sitting and having a coffee people being willing to take small steps

willing to take small steps

willing to take small steps it wasn’t anything dramatic it wasn’t

it wasn’t anything dramatic it wasn’t

it wasn’t anything dramatic it wasn’t anything that only the professionals

anything that only the professionals

anything that only the professionals could do it was everyday people saying

could do it was everyday people saying

could do it was everyday people saying we will take those small steps with you

we will take those small steps with you

we will take those small steps with you it was having the environment created by

it was having the environment created by

it was having the environment created by a passionate group of people who only

a passionate group of people who only

a passionate group of people who only had a very small idea but it became

had a very small idea but it became

had a very small idea but it became something much bigger than them so I

something much bigger than them so I

something much bigger than them so I wonder what could we do what potential

wonder what could we do what potential

wonder what could we do what potential have we got in this room now what

have we got in this room now what

have we got in this room now what potential that we all got to

potential that we all got to

potential that we all got to do something of great significance but

do something of great significance but

do something of great significance but success the one side pursue significance

success the one side pursue significance

success the one side pursue significance instead don’t wait for the big

instead don’t wait for the big

instead don’t wait for the big opportunities don’t wait for the big

opportunities don’t wait for the big

opportunities don’t wait for the big things to come in life take whatever

things to come in life take whatever

things to come in life take whatever small step you’ve got right now and

small step you’ve got right now and

small step you’ve got right now and watch the world change around you thank

watch the world change around you thank

watch the world change around you thank you

you

you [Applause]

”

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