THE NETHERLANDS: The Social Hub has announced the creation of the TSH Talent Foundation to enable talent to overcome barriers to opportunity.
The standalone nonprofit will be funded via a pledge by The Social Hub to distribute 1 per cent of its annual turnover to the organisation.
The TSH Talent Foundation has been created “on the belief that opportunity should be a right for all, not a privilege.”
It aims to help talent overcome barriers to opportunity, specifically change makers who have faced challenges and transformed their experiences. The Foundation will begin activities in September 2024 with a pan-European scholarship programme.
Charlie MacGregor, founder & CEO of The Social Hub said: “I am incredibly proud to announce the TSH Talent Foundation, designed around two themes very close to our hearts: education and inclusivity.
“At The Social Hub, each year we welcome people from over 100 nationalities including professionals, students, hotel guests and locals. With our first scholarship programme, to this community we will add underrepresented students who traditionally wouldn’t be able to gain access to higher education and accommodation in major European cities. With the TSH Talent Foundation we are honoured to be leading our industry in putting our money where our beliefs are and we hope to inspire more of our peers to put purpose into action.”
Starting in September the Foundation will begin activities with the Changemaker Scholarship Programme, which will support 75 individuals via three key areas: spaces & development such as all-inclusive accommodation at one of The Social Hub locations, and participation in professional development and up-skilling programmes; personal growth moments through mentoring and volunteering opportunities, mental and physical support services, plus social and cultural experiences; and paths to connections & collaborations via community-building activities and joining an active alumni network.
The programme is based on a successful pilot rolled out in 2023-2024 by The Social Hub in which 14 individuals from nations including India, Lebanon and Ukraine lived, studied and connected in hubs around Europe.
In the future, the Foundation will also seek to create programmes in collaboration with value-sharing partners including institutions, companies, individuals, and other nonprofits.
Frank Uffen, The Social Hub’s managing director of community & partnerships will take on the role of chairman, TSH Talent Foundation.
Uffen said: “Through the TSH Talent Foundation we will offer a unique, transformative experience to talented and motivated individuals. We aim to fulfil this promise through programmes that hope to foster their empathy and unlock their full potential to contribute to a more equitable, inclusive and peaceful world.”
In addition to the creation of the TSH Talent Foundation, The Social Hub is continuing to rollout two key signature programmes as part of its social impact strategy.
The first is the Better Society Academy, which we reported about here.
The second is a strategic collaboration with Talent Garden, which The Social Hub began to roll out earlier this year as a pilot project at the Amsterdam, Florence and Vienna hubs.
Talent Garden gives participants access to a bespoke immersive learning programme aimed at developing competences and improving employability. Course titles include Authentic Leadership, Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship Boost, Financial Fitness, Practical AI, Productivity Master, and more.
A full implementation of the project is currently being planned and is expected to be implemented at all The Social Hub locations in 2026.
Image supplied by TSH.