Today is the day!!! The launch of my new secret project which I have been dropping a few hints to here and there, so I bet you are all so annoyed with me by now! So let's not wait another second longer and get straight into it!
WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU ON ABOUT NICOLE?
Okay, for ages now I have wanted to make my mark in the blogging community! I have wanted to create something which can help people, inspire people but also bring bloggers together for a long time! I have wanted to do some more personal posts about things I have been through, topics that affect young people etc. In the past but never really felt confident enough to push that publish button. Additionally, I always fear I will come across a bit self-obsessed or looking for some kind of sympathy vote, which really isn't the case at all! So I have decided to come up with a little project/ community about raising awareness of health and wellbeing in young people called #SpeakUp
OKAY OKAY BUT WHAT IS THIS ACTUALLY ABOUT?
I think sometimes we all have our issues, problems and difficulties that we all go through and sometimes it would just be nice to talk to others about it! Share experiences, feelings, advice etc. Trying to help each other out through times of need! Going to doctors for me, like I know many others is a pretty petrifying experience and likewise talking to family and friends we see every day, who we laugh and joke with, who we love very much can still be pretty difficult! So to help out #SpeakUp aims to create a loving, supporting and friendly community made up of bloggers who want to help raise awareness of these issues that can affect young people! Through different ways ( which I will get to in a minute) we support those who need a little bit of help and provide a place where bloggers can talk, share and most importantly speak up about these very important but often overlooked areas of young people's lives! I use the term ' young people' broadly as I am very aware of that some of the topics we will be discussing are universal and affect all ages! Primarily, this community will be based for bloggers between the ages of 11 to early twenties but really anyone can get involved! Both genders are welcome too! So what will you actually be talking about Nicole!? The topics are going to varied but mainly based around topics that affect young people's health and well-being, for example, mental health, body image, peer pressure, alcohol, careers, friendship etc. The list really does go on!
THATS GREAT BUT HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK?
Okay, the million dollar question! Every week there is going to be a post up on my blog dedicated to a new #SpeakUp topic! For the first couple of weeks I am going to be writing the posts but after that I want to get you guys involved ( I will get to that in a minute) Next week, I am going to doing a post close to my heart about my battle with my skin and acne. Alongside these posts, of course, the comments will always be open for discussions and what not but I want to go one step further! I want to start a community chat! On that topic I have talked about that week, I am going to be doing a bit of a chat/ discussion/ advice sharing thing on twitter! The chat will be on a Thursday between 8-9pm. It is very hard to find a time that is suitable for everyone but I will go with this for now and see how it goes!
BRILLANT! BUT HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
Of course, after reading the post that has gone up earlier that week on the topic ( there is no set day for this by the way), you can get involved in the chat on twitter on a Thursday between 8 pm -9 pm using #SpeakUp. However, of course, I have not experienced every problem that young people will ever go through so it doesn't sit with me that I can talk about it and give advice on something I know little about, which is where you guys come in! If you are experiencing, experienced or want to speak up about a topic you think affects young people then you might have the chance to do a guest post for my blog! To get in touch simply send me an email to thriftyvintagefashionbusiness@mail.com with an outline of the topic you want to write about. I will try to fit in as many people as I can in but numerically the month dictates it will be around four as there are four weeks in a month! Not only is this a perfect opportunity to promote your blog but, more importantly, an opportunity to help others and to share advice about an issue that affects you! You will be doing your bit for the community and hopefully spreading happiness and positivity to others!
WHAT ESLE CAN I DO NICOLE?
If you are interested in becoming a member of the #SpeakUp community then you can copy the HTML code at the end of the post within the grab box and place it into the sidebar of your blog which will show the #SpeakUp button, which I designed myself! This will advertise to others you are supporting the community and will hopefully get as many people involved as possible! Also, if you are interested then please do click the click below, also, to sign up! Click the Join #SpeakUp link right below this paragraph! It's best to do it on a computer as it doesn't always work on phones! It will just ask you for your name, blog URL, twitter handle and email address! Your twitter handle and your blog URL will be put in a spreadsheet so everyone can follow each other and find new members of the community to support, talk to etc. Only I will see your email address, it's so I can keep in contact with you in case I need some more guest bloggers! Your email address will never be shared with anyone else and you don't have to add it in if you would rather not!
And that's it! Wow! This is very exciting! I hope you guys get on board with the new community! I hope it really takes off and is not an epic flop! I am really passionate about it so I hope you are too! Stay tuned for the first #SpeakUp blog post on Tuesday xx

<div align="center"><a href="http://thriftyvintagefashion.blogspot.co.uk/" title="Thrifty vintage"><img src="http://imageshack.com/a/img911/1206/mkohc1.png" alt="Thrifty vintage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
This is so exciting! What a great idea, can't wait to get involved!! Would love to write something too.
ReplyDeleteTash x
www.skindeep247.blogspot.com
Thank you! Do get in contact by email and we can discuss it further x
DeleteThis is such a wonderful ideas! I would love to get involved xo
ReplyDeleteemsirose.blogspot.com
Thank you! I would love to see you in the twitter chats etc. x
DeleteThis is such a lovely idea Nicole, I just signed up! :) I hope a lot of people will get involved, good luck with this x
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your support x
DeleteThis is amazing! Huge congrats! Would love to get involved!
ReplyDeleteGrace xx
http://gracexkate.blogspot.com/
aw Thats great! Do get involved in the chats and feel free to send an email over at any time x
DeleteThis is a lovely idea and one I'm very excited about. I probably won't be able to make the Twitter chats as I'll be at work then (boo!) but I plan to support this as much as I possibly can. Thanks or putting yourself out there.
ReplyDeleteTazhiana
TazhiLuxe.com
aw! That is a shame you can't make it! but I am still glad you are supporting! Don't forget to sign up and put the button on your blog x
DeleteThis is a really great idea Nicole. I see so many bloggers wanting to express themselves but struggle to do so. Count me in with the chat lovely.
ReplyDeleteEmma Louise xx
www.owlsandstags.wordpress.com
I look forward to seeing you there x
DeleteI love this idea, I wish there was something like this when I was about 15 so I could find support from likeminded people! Definitely will try to get involved with the chats!
ReplyDeleteJessica xo
jessicathenortherner.blogspot.co.uk
aw! Hopefully I am going to be helping people out! Look forward to seeing you x
DeleteWould be looking forward to joining you on Thursday! :) This project is much needed.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing you x
DeleteWould be looking forward to joining you on Thursday! :) This project is much needed.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much x
DeleteExcellent idea, and very much needed. I added the badge to my blog. You are absolutely incredible Nicole! Good on you xxx
ReplyDeletewww.rosieauthorwriting.blogspot.com
I was just wondering if the little image can be made a different size at all? I was trying to do this and couldn't work it out as it is too big for my blog. xxx
Deleteaww thanks! That means the world to me! I am working on that today and the new badge size will be on the side bar of my blog for you to grab x
DeleteThank you very much for your kind words x
DeleteThis is such a lovely idea. I know there are things I'd like to speak about and things I am confident speaking about so I would love to be involved. Good luck in the project and let me know if I can do anything to help :)
ReplyDeleteEllen,
http://fishnetsxd.blogspot.ie
I would love to hear from you! Drop me an email anytime x
DeleteI love this idea so much, I can't wait to get involved and the future posts for it xx
ReplyDeleteSophie | ssophiespot.blogspot.co.uk
I hope you like them x
DeleteI'd love to get involved in this, it's such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteMaddie // thatplacecalledhere.wordpress.com
Please do sign up and put the button on your blog! x
DeleteThis sounds amazing! Well done Nicole!
ReplyDelete- Jess xxx
Heyitisjess.blogspot.com
Thank you very much Jess x
DeleteSuch a great idea :) Cant wait to see it come alive!
ReplyDeletewe are dannah | australian lifestyle and travel blog
xo
me to! Its going to take a lot of hard work but I can't wait to do it x
DeleteThis is such a lovely idea! I would love to get involved myself and I will definitely be joining in the Twitter chats x
ReplyDeleteErin // Everything Erin
aw Thank you Erin! Look forward to seeing you x
DeleteThis is an amazing project and I really think it can make a difference to people. I would absolutely love to be involved, so I'll keep an eye out for new posts and do my best to make the Twitter chat! Fantastic idea - I really can't wait to see how it develops.
ReplyDeleteHope life is sunny where you are!
Lx
http://lucyeyf.co.uk
aw Thank you very much Lucy! I look forward to seeing you in the chats x
DeleteAw wow, what an superb project! Well done! Such a good idea xx
ReplyDeleteJasmine || http://www.blogsallbeautyy.blogspot.co.uk
Thank you! I am glad you are supporting it x
DeleteThis is such an amazing idea! I'd love to write a guest post for it, so I'll send you an email across once I've thought of an idea! The Twitter chat sounds like it's going to be such a supportive place, and I'm so glad you came up with this idea - it was well worth the wait!! Xx
ReplyDeleteaw Thankyou! Your kind words mean a lot! I look forward to seeing your post, I sent you a DM on Twitter because I didn't see you comment! haha thanks again x
DeleteThis is such a great idea and I can't wait to get involved!
ReplyDeleteSarah x
http://www.saraheliza.co.uk
ohh! Thank you! do sign up and put the button on your blog x
DeleteGreat idea :) I've signed up x
ReplyDeletewww.raiin-monkey.blogspot.com