Often described as a truly inspirational figure, Patrick Hutchinson is a personal trainer, athletics
coach, martial artist, author and business owner. He is also a father of four and grandfather of four. 
A Defining Moment
On June 13, 2020, Patrick and his companions felt an urge to go to the Black Lives Matter
demonstrations in central London. Their mission was to protect women and children from the
aggressive confrontations of far-right counter demonstrators and football hooligans.
Amid the crowds, a profound moment unfolded - an image of Patrick carrying a far-right counter-
protestor on his shoulders, preventing the individual from enduring severe harm. This act of courage
not only shielded the Black Lives Matter movement from negative publicity but also reshaped the
narrative surrounding it.
Patrick's heroic act garnered widespread international attention. Within hours, major news outlets like
the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, CNN, The New York Times, The Guardian, and more were captivated by
his story. His image graced the covers of renowned magazines such as Mens Health, GQ and Vogue.
Patrick's accolades included the GQ Hero award, GQ Humanitarian award and a CNN Heroes award,
recognising him as one of the most inspirational figures of 2020. Beyond awards and recognition,
Patrick received numerous community honours, including the prestigious London Chamber of
Commerce Black Excellence Awards in October 2022.
A Catalyst for Change
Patrick is now recognised as a catalyst for change. He serves as an ambassador for several charities
dedicated to enriching the lives of young people, including The Hope Collective, Rio Ferdinand
Foundation, and The Black Students Support Fund at the Open University.
Now, as a published author and motivational speaker, Patrick shares his life experiences, including
his nearly 25-year career in the corporate world. He passionately emphasises the importance of
educating ourselves and others about the root causes of systemic inequalities. Patrick underscores
how systems of power and privilege perpetuate discrimination, inequality, and a lack of equity for
people of colour. 
His voyage from a South London council estate to becoming a global hero exemplifies the
transformative potential of determination and the capacity for positive change within us all. Patrick's
story serves as a reminder that each of us possesses the potential to make a profound difference in
the world.
Patrick has also Co-founded his own health and wellness brand, pHKind. He hopes to empower
individuals to take ownership of their health by providing them with scientifically backed, high quality,
high strength, vitamins and supplements.

GRAEME ARMSTRONG  is a Times bestselling author from Airdrie. His teenage years were spent within Scotland’s ‘young team’ gang culture. After reading English as an undergraduate at the University of Stirling, he completed a Master’s in Creative Writing. He is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Strathclyde. 

His debut novel, THE YOUNG TEAM, is based upon his experiences and was published by Picador in 2020. It is currently being adapted for screen by Synchronicity Films. Graeme presented a documentary for the BBC, SCOTLAND THE RAVE, exploring the history of rave culture and the Scottish PCDJ subculture, which was subsequently nominated for BAFTA Scotland and RTS Scotland awards. Most recently, he wrote and presented a BBC documentary on Scottish gang culture, STREET GANGS, which aired October 2023 and is available now on BBC iPlayer. Graeme was recently named one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists 5, a once-in-a-decade literary honour. 

‘One of the most admired young voices in British fiction’ – THE TIMES 

‘The non-standard English forges a dazzling poetry’ – GUARDIAN

‘An undeceived eye on life in the margins in post-industrial Scotland’ - HERALD 

‘A novel full of guts, power, humour and humanity’ – KERRY HUDSON

‘A landmark in Scottish Literature’ – DAMIAN BARR 

‘Vivid, dynamic and sharp as a whip’ – JANICE GALLOWAY 

Winner of the Somerset Maugham Award 2021

Winner of the Betty Trask Award 2021

Scots Book of the Year 2021 

Shortlisted Saltire First Book Award 2021

BAFTA Scotland Single Doc Nominee 2022

RTS Scotland Specialist Factual Nominee 2022

Granta Best of Young British Novelists 2023 - 2033 

Christine is one of the UK's most accomplished athletes and was of course the captain of the record-breaking Team GB at the London Olympics in 2012. Christine was an early ambassador for the Damilola Taylor Trust and the Spirit of London Awards. As both were part of the founding Hope Collective partnership,  Chrissy was happy to represent our team at the London half marathon in 2021. She will also be fully involved as an Ambassador to build momentum in our quest to create a fairer society for young people to thrive in.

JohnLoughton BEM is one of the UK’s most sought after motivational speakers
and trainers. He is a social entrepreneur, campaigner, youth worker and leadership
coach with a background in community education. John ran his first campaign aged
11 despite facing a challenging childhood and has went on to speak to over one
million people, worked across 65 countries and helped raise over £10million for
good causes. He is CEO of global leadership company Dare2Lead, which has trained
over 60,000 people across 120 clients. He is also Founder of Scran Academy, an
education social enterprise that has led the production of over 200,000 meals during
lockdown for thousands of vulnerable families and has run alternative education
services for over 5 years.
As a speaker John has addressed the Scottish Parliament Chamber, The Whitehouse,
UN General Assembly, TED Talk events and European Commission. He was
appointed by the Prime Minister to serve on the Calman Commission and member of
the National Literacy Commission. He has a strong voluntary sector background
having worked in policy for leading youth charities in London and Edinburgh, as well
as a number of trusteeships. He was also elected Prime Minister of the Youth
Diplomatic Service at the G8 and G20 Summits in Washington DC. John is currently
the youngest ever Trustee of The Robertson Trust, the largest independent grant
funder in Scotland.
John was named Outstanding Youth of the World 2013 in Rio de Janiero, and in the
Queens Honours List 2020 awarded the British Empire Medal. He is a World Peace
Tartan Global Ambassador, presented to him in 2017 by the grandson of Muhatma
Gandhi, Arun Gandhi. He is a World Ambassador for Junior Chamber International
where he was inaugurated at the United Nations HQ in New York. John studied
Comparative Human Rights on a UNESCO programme at the University of
Connecticut and is a regular guest lecturer at Universities and schools.
On a lighter note, in 2007 he rose in prominence after winning TV show Celebrity Big
Brother Hijack. John is a proud ginger, and when not taking to social media, he loves
to switch off by travelling or bagging another munro!

Paul Canoville – Chelsea Football Club first ever black footballer. Paul is a loyal and committed ambassador for the Collective who regularly attends Hope Hacks around the UK as a guest speaker. Paul talks openly about his personal battles with racism, a key issue the Hope Collective is dedicated to tackling. Paul is also the football ambassador for Crimestoppers Fearless youth helpline and a proud representative for Hope Collective’s partnership with the Professional Footballers Association.  In addition to serving as the official anti-racism ambassador for his club, Chelsea, Paul has much to contribute by influencing young people positively.

Ria is a correspondent at Channel 4 News. As a journalist, Ria seeks to put a rich cross-section of humanity at the heart of her reporting, with a strong and relentless focus on the communities that are vastly underrepresented in the media. Authenticity and empathy play an important role in her approach to journalism. She believes that impactful journalism thrives on connections with people on the frontline of life.