Hello readers,

I hope you are all loving this bright and sunny Monday 😊

How did you feel at the end of last week? Did you have a productive week? Did you get quite frustrated with how things went? Did you enjoy doing what you do? Or like many others, feel every emotion in between?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you’re in the right place. As an ambitious person in the social impact sector, it’s hard to stay motivated and inspired with the constant bleak news in the media and on twitter. Although I’m a politics student, this election is doing my head in already. So, if this resonates with you in anyway, then this blog is here for us both to bring some cheer to our Monday and stay motivated to make the most out of our hours this week.

So, without further ado, here is your small burst and weekly roundup of positive news to start your week as you mean to go on, ready to kick the world’s butt.

* #MerkyBooks pop-up – Stormzy’s #MerkyBooks is hosting a series of events this week ranging from song-writing and illustrating workshops, to panel discussions about re-writing the curriculum. The three-day pop-up will celebrate creativity through music, art, culture, spoken word, songwriters, filmmakers, directors, and curators at the new Beats Residency space in Shoreditch. There are some events with spaces available but most require joining a waitlist. Still worth signing up to in case someone else can’t make it!

* Rise in Living Wage announced today effective immediately – The Living Wage Foundation announces new UK living wage of £9.30 per hour rising by 30p, as well as the London Living Wage rising to £10.75 rising by 20p. This is set to affect over 210,000 workers. As well as Children England being a living wage employer, I’d like to highlight IKEA, who have recently uploaded their first ever Christmas ad with D Double E, embracing UK grime culture!

* Primary school ambassadors highlighting the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – Hawthorn Primary’s student ambassadors share their #rightofthemonth from the UNCRC, and this month they are celebrating Article 19 and Article 36. Click the link above to find out which ones they are from the lovely ambassadors!

* ‘A ship is always safe at shore, but that is not what it is built for’ – Albert Einstein

That’s it from me, I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of #makethemostofmonday. If you did, please share it using the hashtag above! If you feel you’re doing something super positive that should be included in next week's edition, drop us a line at [email protected]. I hope you have a lovely rest of your week and this has inspired you to not only keep going until Friday, but to give it your best possible shot 😊