14.12.2020
On 7th December the Rockwell team were delighted to join the Patchwork Foundation’s 2020 cohort to virtually celebrate their graduation from the ten-month Masterclass programme.
Rockwell has a long-standing relationship with the Patchwork Foundation, which seeks to increase diversity in civil society and each year supports 60 young people on the masterclass programme designed to develop personal and professional skills and increases their political knowledge and experience. Many alumni, which now exceeds 150 people, have gone on to work directly in politics or with charities and NGOs in addition to the private sector. Their tutors have included Secretaries of State, journalists and civil servants.
Rockwell have supported a cohort of 30 people each year since 2018 and despite the majority of this year’s session being virtual, the team have been delighted to be involved throughout and get to know the Patchworkers as usual. The year began with Rockwell’s Board of Directors assisting with the interview process to select the best candidates to become Patchworkers. We then had the privilege of meeting the chosen cohort at the Houses of Parliament, before supporting them in numerous masterclass sessions, including one from our Founder, Donal Mulryan.
The graduation event was hosted by 2019 graduates Rabi Wilson (now a civil servant) and Andrew Wolckenhaar (now reading Politics). Speaking to the group on behalf of Rockwell, Nicholas Mee, our Board Director and Head of Acquisitions said:
“I think back to the online interviews we helped conduct in January and I don’t think any of us envisaged spending almost the entirety of 2020 communicating with one another virtually…To those graduating this evening, over the past 10 months you have participated with such keen enthusiasm and appetite, whilst adapting to a new way of working and learning remotely. This has been impressive to witness and you should be proud to have conducted yourselves in such a professional manner…We are looking forward to supporting Patchwork in the future and, of course, hearing your own stories in the years to come.”
It was a pleasure to support our 2020 cohort on their unique and predominantly virtual Patchwork journey. We’re proud to end the year seeing the difference it has made to each of them and wish them all the best for the future. We very much look forward to meeting them in person alongside our next cohort in 2021!