On Friday 10th April, Black Onyx Academy proudly delivered its first Operation Mindset workshop, designed to highlight the importance of communication, teamwork, and resilience among young people in the local community.
As a veteran-led organisation, Black Onyx Academy is deeply committed to passing on the valuable skills and experiences gained through service to the next generation.
The session saw fantastic engagement throughout the evening, with eighteen young people turning up to get involved. While some participants left early, a strong core group stayed until the very end, fully committed and pushing themselves through a variety of mental and physical challenges. Their determination and energy did not go unnoticed.
Building Resilience, Communication, and Confidence
We asked one attendee how she might have spent her Friday night if she hadn’t attended.
“Probably watching TV or scrolling on my phone.”
Instead, she and many others chose to step outside their comfort zone, try something new, and invest in their personal growth.
We’re also incredibly proud to share that the workshop inspired two girls from the group to take their interest further by wanting to join the cadets, an amazing outcome and a testament to the impact of the session.
At the start of the event, those two girls were reluctant to take part, but by the end, they stated that they absolutely loved it. Stefan Northfield liaised with their parents and took them to visit local cadets centres. Shortly after, the girls joined their local Army Cadets.
What’s Next?
This marks just the beginning of Operation Mindset. Black Onyx Academy plans to run these workshops regularly in Bentley, Stoke-on-Trent, with a vision to expand into wider communities and continue making a positive difference in young people’s lives
Black Onyx Concepts are currently a Gold ERS Award holder and Black Onyx are Bronze. By pledging their support, the organisation is demonstrating ongoing, practical support for Veterans, Reservists, cadets and military families.
If you would like to find out more about these workshops or any other upcoming events, please visit their website.
And if you or someone you know is thinking about joining the cadets, you can find out more information here.
