Testimonials.

I have worked with Rickardo Stewart over the last five years as part of a Leadership Programme for the MDes Service Design, Social Innovation, Design Leadership Post-graduate course at Ravensbourne University. Together with Paul Sternberg, Director Design Innovation and Principal. Research Fellow, I have run a leadership programme for the students on this course. A key element of each session centres on an external speaker and we have relied on Rickardo to be the first speaker on all the courses we have run. He is an excellent model of an emotionally intelligent, creative, self-aware and authentic leadership. His storytelling is compelling and his life-experiences, together with how he has tackled serious social justice issues with successful practical approaches has truly inspired the students and set the tone for the rest of the course.
Fiona Dawe CBE | Time To Think Consultant, Vital Space

Working with Rickardo was an incredible experience, through our partnership he transmitted his unique ability to engage, educate and spark curiosity. He has facilitated cross cultural groups and naturally creates an open, safe and conducive environment with his approach. Rickardo's communication style and stakeholder involvement allows for authentic and deep rooted work to be done; he is a capability accelerator with empathy! It has been a real learning moment for myself and others. This partnership has been long standing and Rickardo has been engaged since the beginning; his strategic insight and development have been pivotal to its ongoing success.
Dreem Nkumbula | Head of DE&I and CSR, GUCCI

Rickardo Stewart is a creative, consistent and talented practitioner. He has a rare ability to quickly connect with a wide range of people, establishing how best to form a working relationship, understanding what motivates people and how to hit the ground running by listening and working alongside them to achieve their goals. Rickardo brings energy, enthusiasm and vast knowledge to his work. Rickardo is versatile and able to adapt quickly to respond to the needs of the people he is supporting. We have worked together in a number of settings, including engaging young people on estates, signposting excluded or hard to reach individuals to positive activities, and supporting young people into sustainable employment. Whether Rickardo is working in a pupil referral unit, securing cleaning contracts or designing and delivering high-quality provision in the community, he is always innovative, has an impressive attention to detail, he is able to spot trends and make them relevant to his work. Most importantly, Rickardo is a committed professional who creates positive, energising and thought-provoking, safe spaces for high-risk young people, which is a skill he continues to cultivate and replicate. Rickardo does this effortlessly, but in reality, it is quite the opposite.
Isabel Chapman | Founder + Director, Power To Connect

Having known and worked on many projects with Rickardo for over 10 years, I have seen him grow in both a personal and professional capacity to successfully establishing a recognised and trusted brand in the London Borough of Barnet. I am not a firm believer of groups or individuals that are deemed to be hard to reach, all that's needed is for those providing the support to those they feel need it the most is to have the right methods to reach out harder and Rickardo has and continues to demonstrate these methods through a range of innovative and successful projects. The Barnet Group continues to be proud of its working relationship with Rickardo in supporting us in ensuring children, young people and those furthest away from the labour market have access to the same opportunities as anyone else. Rickardo is a great role model to others and one that I sincerely recognise as a real community champion.
Tim Blanc | Head of Community Engagement, Barnet Homes / Barnet Group

I have worked with Rickardo since 2012. He has an impressive range of skills including the ability to assess local needs and develop real and practical responses. His project management is focussed and he diligently manages resources to achieve the maximum benefit for the young people he works with. Rickardo has integrity and provides an excellent role model for others. He engages effectively with hard to reach young people as well as with senior managers, politicians and the media.
Karen Walkden | Director, Flourishing Consulting

I’ve known Rickardo Stewart since early 2017 when we were introduced through a teacher at a Pupil Referral Unit he was working in, that I used to study at. I had gone in to speak to some staff and be advised on the best route to take regarding the establishment of my own youth project; coincidently Rickardo was working that day, and they all directed me straight to him with my endless questions. He was and still is very supportive of my goals and mission, supporting where he can and checking in to remind me that if I do ever have a question, query or concern, I can give him a shout. Rickardo was extremely helpful, especially when I first started out and had no idea how to put together an invoice, register a company or structure a workshop - definitely still learning! Rickardo has also directed me towards opportunities that advance both my personal development, and support the growth of my organisation and for that, I am super thankful!
Talia Kensit | Founder (& former-CEO), Youth Realities

"It was inspiring to hear direct from a witness about their experiences and journey. He was a great presenter and his story was great to follow. It was great to hear that it can be possible to get a small piece of the pie even if the whole thing is too big for your company."

"It was really useful hearing his perspective on partnering with others orgs and how to make your brand stand out"

"Rickardo was very inspiring with his story and journey."

Testimonials from course participants | Lloyds bank foundation Trading and sustainability programme. School for Social Entrepreneurs

I have worked with Rickardo for 10 years. He has a real understanding of our community, and of the needs of young people within it. As a youth worker, he is able to build trust and relationships with children and young people, even when their lives are chaotic. He meets them where there are, physically and emotionally. He is able to mediate between them, and create safe spaces and plans. He is a calm and experienced mentor, lifting self-esteem, providing hope and offering pathways. 

As a strategist and manager, Rickardo always centres the children and young people he works with. His work is imaginative as well as practical. He is adaptable and measured. 

I would strongly recommend working with Rickardo, if you get the chance.
Julia Hines | Board Member, Grange Big Local

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