Switch Up
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Five pillars: mentoring, education, counselling, employability, physical activity. England Boxing Affiliated Boxing Club, based in Nottingham
Switch Up supports young people and families affected by crime and violence in Nottinghamshire, building positive futures through education, employment and wellbeing.
💙 This Men’s Mental Health Week, we’re sharing a conversation that really matters.
In this powerful interview, from sits down with our CEO, , to talk openly and honestly about his struggles with mental health.
It’s a raw and emotional conversation about the challenges Ryan has faced, the impact they had on his life, and why talking about mental health is so important.
By sharing his story, Ryan is helping to show that it’s okay not to be okay, and that reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
💙 If this story resonates with you, please take a few minutes to watch the full interview.
🎥 Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full interview with Ryan:
- LINK IN BIO -
And if you think someone else might benefit from hearing Ryan’s story, please share this post. You never know who might need to hear these words today.
A huge thank you to Ryan for speaking so openly, and to Lindleys Autocentres for helping us keep important conversations like this going.
Foundation
💙 This Men's Mental Health Week, we're sharing a conversation that really matters.
In this powerful interview, Ryan O'Donnell from Lindleys Autocentres sits down with our CEO, Marcellus Baz, to talk openly and honestly about his struggles with mental health.
It's a raw and emotional conversation about the challenges Ryan has faced, the impact they had on his life, and why talking about mental health is so important.
By sharing his story, Ryan is helping to show that it's okay not to be okay, and that reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
💙 If this story resonates with you, please take a few minutes to watch the full interview.
🎥 Watch here:
https://youtu.be/mj6IRiBXgHE
And if you think someone else might benefit from hearing Ryan's story, please share this post. You never know who might need to hear these words today.
A huge thank you to Ryan for speaking so openly, and to Lindleys Autocentres for helping us keep important conversations like this going.
Andys Man Club Movember Calm Mind Nottinghamshire Mind Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Rethink Mental Illness
"It's a very surreal and weird place to be when you've made an attempt on your own life through an overdose".
If you haven’t caught Episode 2 of Under the Hood yet, it’s well worth a listen.
Switch Up CEO, Marcellus Baz , sits down with Mark Platt, founder of Mens Room, for a frank discussion about his own experiences with mental health and how they led him to create a charity that now supports vulnerable young men across Nottingham.
Joining the conversation is Dr Saima Masud from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, who shares her perspective on mental health, healthcare and the challenges facing communities today.
The result is a powerful conversation about resilience, support and the importance of creating opportunities for people to thrive.
Give it a listen/watch and let us know what resonates most with you.
🎧 Listen for free:
https://under-the-hood.captivate.fm/listen
📺 Watch for free:
https://www.youtube.com//podcasts
And don’t forget to subscribe to our Podcast channels, with Episode 3 landing on 14 July!
🎙️ UNDER THE HOOD EPISODE 2 - OUT NOW
What happens when we stop pretending we're okay?
When we create space for honesty, vulnerability and real conversation?
Episode 2 of Under The Hood is now live, and it's a conversation that will stay with you long after you've listened.
Switch Up CEO and host, Dr Marcellus Baz BEM, is joined by Mark Platt, Founder of The Men's Room and CEO of ICS Professional Services Ltd, and Dr Saima Masud, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to explore the realities of mental health and the impact it has on individuals, families and communities.
🎧 Listen for free:
https://under-the-hood.captivate.fm/listen
📺 Watch for free:
https://www.youtube.com//podcasts
And don’t forget to subscribe to our Podcast channels, with Episode 3 landing on 14 July!
After you've listened, we'd love to hear what resonated with you most. Join the conversation in the comments below.
A huge thank you to our podcast sponsors, Lindleys Autocentres, 200 Degrees Coffee and Sandbox Studios for helping make these important conversations possible.
12/06/2026
Celebrating Volunteers' Week at Switch Up: Thank You, David 🩵
As comes to a close, we want to take a moment to recognise the incredible people who give their time, energy and expertise to make Switch Up what it is.
Today, we're shining a spotlight on David Watson, one of our longest-serving volunteers.
Over the years, David has given countless hours to support Switch Up, sharing his knowledge, experience and unwavering commitment to our mission. Whether he's behind the scenes helping things run smoothly or stepping up whenever he's needed, David has become an integral part of the Switch Up family.
The impact of volunteers like David reaches far beyond our organisation. By giving their time, our volunteers help create opportunities, build confidence, strengthen communities and support local young people to realise their potential.
Volunteers are at the heart of so much of what we do here at Switch Up. They bring passion, skills, encouragement and a belief in our young people that helps drive positive change every single day.
We also want to thank the many partner organisations who generously volunteer their support, expertise and staff time throughout the year. From delivering workshops and mentoring sessions to supporting events and sharing specialist knowledge, your contribution is equally vital to the work we do and the opportunities we create for young people.
David, thank you for everything you have done - and continue to do. We genuinely couldn't do it without you.
And to every one of our volunteers and partners: thank you for being part of the journey. Your contribution matters, and your impact is felt across our organisation and throughout the communities we serve.
👉 Interested in making a difference? Whether you're an individual looking to volunteer your time or an organisation keen to support our work, we'd love to hear from you. Find out more via the link below:
🔗 https://switchupnotts.co.uk/volunteer/
🎙️ UNDER THE HOOD EPISODE 2 – COMING MONDAY 15 JUNE
Some conversations are difficult to have.
Some stories need to be told.
In Episode 2 of Under The Hood, Swich Up CEO and host, Marcellus Baz, sits down with two people working to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing our communities today: mental health.
Joining Baz are:
• Mark Platt, Founder of The Men's Room and CEO of ICS Professional Services Ltd, and
• Dr Saima Masud, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
In what is perhaps our most powerful episode yet, Mark speaks openly and honestly about his own mental health journey, sharing the struggles he faced behind closed doors, the impact it had on his life, and the strength it took to reach out for support.
Alongside Dr Masud's expert insight, this is a conversation about stigma, resilience, vulnerability and why talking about mental health can save lives.
At Under The Hood, we're interested in the conversations that don't always make the headlines. The realities people live with. The challenges our communities face. And the stories that can inspire change.
🎧 Listen from Monday 15 June:
https://under-the-hood.captivate.fm/listen
📺 Watch from Monday 15 June:
https://www.youtube.com//podcasts
In the meantime, catch up on Episode 1 with Vicky McClure.
A huge thank you to our podcast sponsors, Lindleys Autocentres , 200 Degrees Coffee Roasters and SANDBOX Studios for helping make these conversations possible.
09/06/2026
⚽🌳 Not a bad place for a training session...
Last week, Switch Up brought a group of our young people to Nottingham Forest FC Nottingham Forest for a special training session on the City Ground pitch with Forest's coaching team.
From practising their skills on the hallowed turf to soaking up every moment of the experience, it was a day packed with smiles, confidence-building and memories that will last a lifetime.
For many of our young people, opportunities like this simply wouldn't be possible without partners who genuinely care about their community. That's why we're incredibly grateful to Nottingham Forest FC for continuing to open doors, create incredible memories for vulnerable children and inspire the next generation.
Forest have been welcoming our young people and their families to matches through their Magic Moments initiative this season - and also creating unforgettable experiences like this.
A huge thank you to everyone at the club for inviting us to another special day.
05/06/2026
🚀 Join the Switch Up Team
Do you want a career where you can make a genuine difference to the lives of young people and communities across Nottinghamshire?
At Switch Up, we're passionate about building positive futures. Every day, our team works alongside young people facing challenges such as poverty, exclusion, violence and a lack of opportunity - helping them build confidence, resilience and steering them back into education and employment.
We're excited to be recruiting for three new positions and are looking for passionate, committed and talented individuals to join our growing team.
Whether you're an experienced professional or looking for your next challenge, this is an opportunity to be part of an organisation that changes lives every day.
🩵 Meaningful work
🩵 Supportive team culture
🩵 Opportunities to grow and develop
🩵 The chance to create lasting impact in your community
Current vacancies:
📌 Education Tutor
📌 Targeted Youth Worker (Full Time)
📌 Targeted Youth Worker (Term Time)
For more information, please visit our careers page (link below) to download the vacancies brochure:
🔗 https://switchupnotts.co.uk/careers/
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
Contact the school
Website
Address
163 Woodborough Road
Nottingham
NG31AX