Member Article

January Wellbeing event aims to motivate the UK with the help of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ella Henderson and Tom Blackledge.

A new year is a chance to take stock and make resolutions for the year ahead. For some, a new year can be a daunting and anxious time. The all-day Master Your Life event on Saturday, January 27th at The Birmingham Symphony Hall aims to tackle this by bringing together the excellent Sir Ranulph Fiennes and singer Ella Henderson as well as award-winning author James Burke to give us all tips and mechanisms to live a happy, healthy and prosperous 2024.

Did you know that:

• 9.2 million UK adults describe themselves as drained and desperate.
• 16-24-year-olds suffer from loneliness more than any other age group.
• Only 15% of employees worldwide feel engaged.

A man who has been through all of the above after being thrown out of 4 schools, becoming homeless at 16 for three years and losing four loved ones to suicide is James Burke from Manchester. The 34 year old father of 3 is now a successful businessman, speaker and award-winning author. The Master Your Life event is his brainchild because he is intent on giving back after overcoming incredible adversity in his own life.

James was born into poverty on an estate in Salford. One of eight siblings, the education and social care system failed him which resulted in him sleeping rough for three years. “I felt I had nothing to live for. I felt lonely, isolated and in pain which are feelings associated with homelessness. I didn’t know how to feel better and I began to feel suicidal.” James didn’t join a cult or find religion. He found books. “Books saved my life. I started reading motivational books, getting through around 350 books in 5 years.” From there he got his first job, was promoted within 18 months, won a prestigious award and was hired as a director for one of the UK’s largest property firms, earning a 6 figure salary. This was all 5 years on from sleeping in shop doorways. Those who have seen James speak about his early life and how he managed to pull himself out of despair say his story is inspirational wherever you may be in life.

The Master Your Life day-long event will see James share his story as will explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes who will talk about resilience and his journey as well as impart his methods on how to plan for success. There will be entertainment from Ella Henderson, herself a mental health advocate, and a Q + A with comedian Paul Smith. Also speaking will be former UFC champion Tom Blackledge and best-selling author Michael Heppel.

James says: “Don’t settle for more of the same in 2024. Whatever you want, make January 27 the day you ignite massive new changes in your life and make them stick.”

The action-packed Master Your Life Event is on Saturday 27th January from 10.00 to 19.00 at Birmingham Symphony Hall. Tickets are going fast but you can still bag a bargain at Eventbrite with 80% off by using this code MYL80.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lucy Hood .