Old Blue Parent, Frank Bolaji Irawo a Technical Project Manager turned ICF Accredited Life Coach, Releases DREAM, A Life Transforming Amazon Bestselling Book, donating 20% of the profits to The Blue Fund

A reflective journey from wherever you are to Joy, Peace and Contentment. Working from the Inside. Out Now!

The poems and reflective exercises in this DREAM book are guaranteed to create transformation for the reader. Such guidance helped Frank go from Project Manager in the technology industry, on the edge of bankruptcy, stressed and experiencing poor relationships to thriving and living with ease. Frank now manages a coaching practice; his relationships have improved significantly and is making a greater impact in the world through the Calm Self Foundation charity work.

If you are feeling unfulfilled, numb, stressed, burnt out or empty.  Exhausted through your search for happiness, peace, and contentment; even after changing jobs, location, relationships and buying material goods. Does everything feel out of reach? Do you want more out of life? Then this is the book for you. In nearly 300 hours of coaching, such teaching has served Franks’s clients without fail.

Through this book he is on a mission to help you live your best life with greater clarity, larger impact, and more enriching relationships by changing your experience from the inside out. Stop waiting for your DREAM life to manifest, your journey starts now! The book uses DREAM framework to guide you on this life transforming journey.

Discovery – Know where you are now

Recovery – Get the gold from the past and move on

Envisioning – See what is possible

Action – Do what you know to do now

Manifestation – Experience your dream life unfolding

Proceeds

All proceeds from the book sales will support Charity Water, Lend with Care, The Blue Fund, Green Pastures, and B1G1 to help them provide clean water, work, education, housing, and good mental health to millions across the planet. The purchase of 200,000 books will deliver our target of raising £1,000,000.

Both of Franks children are Old Blues and have seen first have the benefit that donations make towards, Blue Fund and Bursaries; he has generously commited to 20% of the proceeds of this book to go towards The Blue Fund. You can find out more about how The Blue Fund benefits pupils here.

 “I love your work, Frank; it’s always so moving and thought-provoking. What I always find so wonderful is the preamble, the comment made in passing or the crack in the sidewalk that sparked such deep observations. I cannot wait to order a copy!” – Kendra Parker

“I’ve never been big into poetry, but Frank Bolaji Irawo has beautifully shifted my experience with it!” – Helen Amery

Get your copy today

 Order your copy from Amazon (paperback – £14.99, Kindle – £9.99) , Waterstones

For sample copy of the book and latest information about free live events visit www.thecalmself.com/dream-release

Note To Media: Frank Bolaji Irawo is available for Interviews and podcasts. To arrange an interview, see contact Information below

Find out more about the author
Email: contact@letmebefrank.coach
Website: www.thecalmself.com
Instagram: letmebefrank.coach

On this US holiday we would like to thank the Friends of Christ’s Hospital (FCH) in the US for their dedicated support of CH. To date, donors in the USA have supported no fewer than 56 pupils at CH, many of whom have already gone on to universities and successful careers. Currently nine pupils at CH are supported by US donors. These pupils include the current Second Monitor, Alexandra. Now in her final year at CH, Alexandra has taken advantage of every opportunity available to her and has thrived during her time at the School. Reflecting on her time at CH she recently said:

“One of the best things about my experience at Christ’s Hospital is the vast range of opportunities that have been offered to me, both within and outside of the classroom. These opportunities include participation in Linguistic, Maths and Science Olympiads, playing instruments and being part of the Medical Society and a number of different sports teams during my time here. I’m grateful for all of these opportunities because they have allowed me to grow as a person, while gaining skills that will be beneficial in my life and future career after I leave”.

By developing confidence, resilience, and self-esteem, a CH education transforms the lives of young people, equipping them with the ability to believe in themselves and pursue their goals. Here’s what James, one of last year’s leavers said about his CH experience:

 “Being at CH for 7 years has truly made it a home for me. I owe growing up from a shy young boy to a confident adult all to CH. When I got given the opportunity to play saxophone in Second Form I had no idea that it would lead to where I am today. The countless concerts, big band, marching through the streets of London for special events such as the Queen’s birthday, Jazz and Blues night, Valentine’s Day jazz night and much more. CH gave me the opportunity to gain a skill that would lead to hundreds of incredible experiences. The friendships I’ve made at CH have left me with lifelong friends and an endless list of memories. Now I’m coming to the time of leaving, I know it will be hard to leave behind what I’ve considered a home for the last 7 years but using everything I’ve learnt I’m ready to start a new chapter in my life.” James Ormerod (PeB, GrW 14-21)

There have been times when expressing an interest in protecting the natural world would see you labelled as a hippy or a crank, or perhaps even a dangerous militant. It could be argued that the ‘cranks’ are the ones who have been promoting extractive, linear approaches to resources and waste, ignoring the fact that we are part of a cyclical and interconnected world. The Eco Rangers (not ‘warriors’) seek to reclaim eco consciousness as a positive trait, and attempt to do so in an inclusive way without moralising or shaming.  We are all complicit in the destruction of functioning eco-systems, and we can all be part of the solution.

Whilst there have been various groups at CH dedicated to ‘natural history’, the current iteration of Eco Rangers was founded at the beginning of 2019, coinciding with a surge in awareness of environmental issues sparked by the Fridays For Future and Extinction Rebellion campaigns.  The group is student-led, supervised by Christy Hawkins (English teacher, assistant DSL & Visiting Speaker Coordinator) and Zoe Munday (Drama teacher, School Mindfulness Specialist and Head of 2nd Form).

The Eco Rangers’ aims are “To drive the school to be a more sustainable organisation, and to encourage staff and students to use their full resources to educate and inspire on ecological issues.”. Below, pupils talk about what being an Eco Ranger means to them.

Maddie

I have been part of the Eco Rangers for a year and a half. After reading and learning about the climate crisis individually and implementing more eco-friendly behaviours into my life, I still felt like I was lacking proactivity. Having heard of the various initiatives the Eco Rangers had been executing, I was interested in what kind of community Eco Rangers would be. It turned out to be a place for expression, action and education filled with zealous, inquiring, and opinionated people!

Activism through peaceful protest has always been something I have been interested in. This show of unity of people from all backgrounds, despite gender, colour, race, age or any other physical or social distinction always inspired me. I found out about a local ‘Fridays for Future’ march and immediately knew Eco Rangers had to be involved. Just as I had hoped, the march was a vibrant occasion and the Eco Rangers made an undoubtable impact, leading conversations, waving banners and meeting people who later came to speak at the school and influenced our future efforts. I look back on this fondly, not just because it was an event that I influenced and worked hard on, but it was before the division of Coronavirus, reminding me continually of the strength of a little idea fuelled by a lot of hope.

With support from willing teachers, the Eco Rangers became involved with ‘TerraCycle’ (a recycling platform to collect non-recyclable waste to turn it into raw material to be used in new products). CH students get through a lot of tuck during a school term – it’s almost tradition! – and with this new system, packets that would normally end up in the general waste were dealt with more sustainably. It was brilliant to see so many people round the school supporting this effort.

At home, we have reduced our dairy and meat consumption significantly and we try to buy local produce. The experience of cooking more eco-friendly meals has been so enjoyable, especially in lockdown when we had more time to cook. My family do the general things such as composting, avoiding single use plastic, freezing portions of meals to prevent food waste and much more. There is still a lot that we need to improve on, but I think it is important to recognise the limitations of trying to be as eco-friendly as possible. I feel privileged to have the option of implementing these things into my home life.

We may not see the impact of environmental issues every day, but some people and species do. The facts speak for themselves. As stated by the World Health Organisation ‘climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050’.  The United Nations climate report and subsequent reports have warned us that global carbon pollution must be cut in half in the next ten years for us to avoid catastrophic, irreversible damage to our planet. It’s clear to me that if we can help prevent a crisis that will impact generations to come, that’s something we must do.

Freddie

I was one of the original members of the Eco Rangers when the group was made in the Lent term of 2019. We didn’t have much structure then, but the group evolved and quickly developed to become what it is today!

Humans do amazing things, but we often destroy anything in our path in order to do so. I think everyone should do their bit to reduce our impact on the world and holding a large interest in climate change meant that I quickly found a place within the Eco Rangers, where there are members with so many different interests. It’s this that means we are managing to achieve so much! There are no leaders, just personal initiative.

I worked with the School to completely change the lights in the Chapel, many of our classrooms and also the streetlamps around our site to reduce our energy usage, but the Eco Ranger’s best work comes from when there are large group projects, especially when they involve the younger students. One of our younger students led a small trip to Horsham to join in solidarity with the Fridays for Future campaign to speak up on and raise attention of issues around the environment to government, but this was done in a very organised way without missing any of our lesson time, so we could what we felt was the right thing without missing out on our all-important education.

Some of the most successful projects of the Eco Rangers have been what I like to call the ‘small wins’, where people don’t notice them, but that doesn’t mean the impact is small. After all, if we all do very little then very little is achieved. One of these projects was reducing the time it took for computers and printers to go into standby, and another was encouraging the school to source its energy more greenly. As well as this, the school is currently looking at the future of our energy use and potentially extending our already large Solar Farm! One of the very first things the Eco Rangers did was introducing battery recycling bins, which has prevented hundreds of batteries containing toxic chemicals and metals heading for landfill.

The work doesn’t finish at school! In order to continually reduce our environmental impact, we must do what we can in the home. I’m a vegetarian and a keen buyer of second-hand clothes, but I understand that this doesn’t work for everyone and we can’t push a particular regime; we have to do what works for us. There’s always something we can do!

Over the past couple of years, it has been shown that by putting environmental matters to the front of public minds (I’m thinking David Attenborough and Fridays for Future in particular here), governments can quickly legislate for environmental protection (microplastics ban, ban on new fossil fuel-powered cars from 2030) and companies can change their actions (companies aiming for net zero/widespread packaging improvements). We have seen that our actions do matter, so it is important we push for more until we have fully reduced our impact on the environment to the best of our ability. Especially with the restart that the Coronavirus pandemic has given us, we can and should do better!

Annabel

I joined the CH eco-rangers in Michaelmas 2019 so over a year ago! I decided to join Eco Rangers because so many awful things were happening to our world and I felt like I needed to do something and learn how I could help our planet.

I have two favourite projects because they are both very different and I can’t make my mind up! The first would have to be the first big project that I did with the Eco Rangers which was the second-hand clothes sale in the Herford Centre, which was very exciting and great fun because lots of pupils and staff came to support it. Then the second would be the school allotment which over the last year the eco-rangers have been busy resurrecting and growing a wide range of food, my favourite being the tomatoes which we have also made into chutney!

There have been a number of well supported initiatives in the School but personally I have been involved in the School allotment. Hopefully when we are back at school, and the weather has improved we can get lots of pupils involved and have fun growing lots of food which we obviously get to taste!

At home, as well as being a lot more conscious about where our food comes from, we also buy more of our clothes second hand and try to recycle as much as possible!

I think it’s important to take on environmental matters because we can all see the changes that are going on with our planet which is unsustainable. I think collectively we can all make the necessary changes to allow our planet to recover.

Max

I’ve been part of the Eco Rangers since the group started. I wanted to join because I love nature but saw that there were issues to do with our lifestyle which disturbs the environment’s gentle balance, so I wanted to take action and find other like-minded people who loved nature too.

My favourite project was probably making the Eco Rangers’ banner out of an old bedsheet, it was lots of fun to make! As well as helping with the Eco Rangers flag, I am also currently arranging a collaborative piece of artwork about eco-friendly jobs which will be put onto the Sussex Green Living milk float. Most of all, I hope that I’ve helped get younger pupils to get outside more and appreciate nature.

I’ve encouraged my household to wash up dirty containers before putting them into the recycling, as well as trying to look for second-hand clothing or ethical clothing companies. In particular, I try to convince my household to limit plastic usage by not buying things we don’t need or going to the local refill centre. We’re not perfect, but we have improved!

It’s important to take on environmental matters because we directly benefit from nature, as we are in a very privileged country, not all of us see the consequences our actions can have on other people in less privileged circumstances. Nature can be SO beneficial for our mental health and it’s wonderful that more people have been getting out into nature recently, hopefully people will continue to get outside, and become friends with the Earth. Everyone can lead their own change, even if it’s only little, it’s empowering when people find an issue which they care about, and act upon it. When someone takes on a matter which is important to them and others, that’s an act of kindness, and kind is what we all can, and need to be.

You can read the full Eco Rangers article on pages 6-7 of The Old Blue Spring 2021 

There are so many positive aspects of CH life which may be similar to other boarding schools, most notably the sporting and extracurricular opportunities. However, there is no other school in the country which brings together so many people from such different backgrounds and does so in such harmony, providing experience and integration of all classes and cultures – something which is invaluable and incredibly powerful.

This is now my seventh year at CH, and in that time I have had so many trips and extracurricular activities that I likely would never otherwise be exposed to. Academically, I have been supported and encouraged to reach beyond even my own goals and being a part of the MUN/CCF/house leadership has provided me with so many opportunities to go to different places and meet new people. I have never not benefited from any of my experiences in this capacity; I always gain new life skills at each interaction.
Being in a boarding house environment has given me so much confidence and general life skills as I transition to university. Especially as a House Captain and then a Monitor, some of the greatest pleasures at CH have been the small moments supporting younger students through any difficulties they might be having and seeing them develop and flourish.

By far my greatest achievement at CH so far would be my academic progress, which of course is the most important and lasting factor of school. After that would be the experiences I’ve had with the School in working on Energy Conversation Investments, including a complete re-lighting of the chapel and site streetlamps, where I had the pleasure of speaking to the Council of Christ’s Hospital. This was the most impressive support that the School has given me – the ability to work with them to improve our energy usage, and they were very open to ideas and improvements. This flexibility has provided me with invaluable experience for something which I am hoping to work with in the future. I’m not sure that other establishments and schools would be so receptive and supportive in such a matter.

CH has been with me through some of the most vital years of my life and is therefore responsible for most of my development. I believe it has given me the confidence to aim high and facilitated the skills to do this. CH has given me the ability to achieve the top grades and academic potential which are necessary for the next steps of my academic life, but, almost more importantly I feel that it has given me the skills and experiences for professional life. I’d like to study International Relations at University and then go into a career in either diplomacy or renewable energy development. As long as there’s variety and travel in a job, I’ll be happy!

Although I don’t live in a particularly ‘bad’ area, I know that if I were not lucky enough to earn a place at CH my experiences in life would be rather different. I don’t believe that I would’ve been able to achieve the academic grades that I have, and certainly not gain the skills and confidence that I have in my time here. What CH has done is really changed the trajectory of my progress for the better, and given me a head start in life for which I shall always be eternally grateful for.

You can give another young person the same opportunities that Freddie has received. Donate today to give the gift of a CH education to a young person in need.

It’s the family that makes CH unique for me. When you first join CH you have all these ideas about what it’s going to be like, questions that you want to ask your mentor and things that you want to see and do. But the thought of joining an extended family never usually crosses people’s minds, and I think that is what makes CH unique. Your house parents become your “parents” and friends eventually become your “siblings” – you have a sense of always having a family at school that you can rely on.

The impact of CH on my education and life experience has been extraordinary. The School has taught me to open myself up to new experiences, meet new people from around the world and challenge myself academically and physically. I would say the biggest skill I have learned whilst being at CH is teamwork, which I use both on the sports fields and in classrooms.

Being at CH has provided me with many opportunities such as: being able to learn fives, a sport I have won many awards in; having the opportunity to gain work experience with British Airways for a week; challenging myself physically by going mountain hiking; experiencing the thrill of flying a glider plane at an RAF base, and more. The School has many opportunities that they throw at you – it’s up to you to take these opportunities forward and experience as much as you can.

One of my greatest achievements at CH has been to do with my year group (sisters) in my boarding house. At the start of 2nd Form we were all very different and didn’t have much in common. We went through our ups and downs, but now it is clear to see that our differences between each other have made us closer. We all went through the struggle of GCSEs and adjustments to A-levels together and that has made us stronger as a unit. My greatest achievement is having a group of “sisters” who I know will have my back no matter what.

Another of my achievements are my sporting successes. Before coming to CH, I had set sports which I focused solely on, which were usually single person sports, and as a result I never had to open myself up to teamwork. CH has allowed me to experience other sports and develop that skill of teamwork. These include sports such as fives, athletics, hockey and netball, which I enjoy just as much as my other sports now. So much so, that I have represented my school in national and county competitions.

Another of my greatest achievements is getting into CH. Coming from an area in East London where you see certain things happen to your friends, you can sometimes think that there is not a way out and you’re stuck. However, CH allowed me to escape and experience the possibilities that an education with support can get me, and for that I am very grateful.

As a sports scholar I have received most of my support at school from the sports department and house parents. I have had the opportunity to create a one-on-one relationship with the coaches, which I believe has benefited me. They have guided me through my struggles of balancing sport and academics by creating a personal extracurricular timetable for me, as well as supporting me in anything I do. My house parents and the sports staff have been there when I haven’t performed to my best, have helped me through injuries, and have taken the time to drive me to my external sports clubs. The biggest things I have learnt from them are the power of resilience and perseverance, and the importance of enjoying yourself in the moment. Academically, my teachers have supported me a lot too. We are able to contact them whenever we need to via email or teams. They make time for us and schedule 1-to-1 sessions if we are struggling on a topic, as well as providing further materials that can help us.

CH has shown me that not everything will always go your way, but you shouldn’t let that stop you. The teachers at the School have seen everything and anything, so are always prepared when I throw a curveball in their direction. They are able to guide me, calm me down and help me see other routes to achieving what I want. The education at CH has made me realise that whatever goal I want is attainable as long as I work hard and smartly for it.

CH has, without a doubt, improved my education and opportunities. The School has many students from all over the world, all with different abilities. The competition to be the best you can be at school is high and as a result everyone pushes themselves to try their hardest. Coming from a deprived area in East London, you don’t often see people push themselves to get the best in the education system, so having this opportunity has definitely benefitted me academically and improved my confidence.

If I hadn’t had the opportunity to attend CH I believe that I would still work as hard but there would be less support in overcoming obstacles. I wouldn’t have the 24hr teacher support that CH gives, the online resources and the external competition. I think without CH, I would believe less in my goal and just hope for the best, rather than go out and get the best.

CH has made me dream big and, as a result, my hopes for the future are also big. I want to become a pilot and then own my own luxury hotels. With the help of CH and their links with British Airways, I have got closer to my dream of becoming a pilot by attaining a week’s work experience with BA at Gatwick. The School has supported me with this and pointed me in opportunistic directions. I hope that in the future I will be in a position to give back to CH.

Thanks to the generosity of Blue Fund donors, Tegan joined Christ’s Hospital in September 2018. Now in her second year, she is having fun taking part in the opportunities on offer, and achieving academically. Like the rest of CH pupils, Tegan has started her Summer Term working from home with support from her teachers and House Parent. She had this to say about her time at CH so far:

“I think one of the most special things about being at Christ’s Hospital so far is boarding and friends you make. We are all so close and we all become like a big family. It’s really nice as everyone is always there for you. When I came back to school after the summer holidays I had a massive hit of home sickness, but people in my house helped make me feel better. We went to breakfast together and we talked about what would be happening that day and it really helped me and I am so grateful to have them.

In October we went on a trip to France and it was so fun and incredible to see the things we saw, like the Bayeux Tapestry. Another thing I’ve enjoyed this year are house nights because we always do weird things like a fashion show but we have to use bin bags! I’ve also really liked being able to take part in sports that I wouldn’t have been able to do in my primary school. I’ve always liked sports but I’ve put a lot of effort in this year and it’s one of the activities I’ve enjoyed the most.

My best achievement so far this year has been my grades. I never really pushed myself academically before I came to CH, and the grades I’ve achieved here have made me feel really proud of myself!

Next year we get to choose which subjects we want to take and I’m really looking forward to exploring new subjects and getting stuck in to the subjects I want to learn about.”

– Tegan, Second Blue Fund Pupil

You can join the Blue Fund and, with over 400 other Old Blues, parents and other friends of CH, give the gift of a CH education to another young person like Tegan. Find out more about the Blue Fund here and  donate here.

For me, Christ’s Hospital is unique because the people come from all backgrounds, which means we recognise how lucky we are to be at an amazing school like CH; because of that the environment is inclusive and welcoming. People throw themselves into life at CH, making it a bustling and busy community. The many opportunities I’ve had – marching through the streets of London, getting a 50p from the Lord Mayor to wearing a Tudor uniform everyday – are just some of the unique things I will hold onto for the rest of my life!

It’s a bit cliché but CH is so much more than just an education! I’ve been able to come out with an amazing education that I don’t think I would have received without the support and bursaries of CH. Outside of that, the opportunities I’ve gained have made me have an all-rounded person. These range from playing sports for the School, to marching with the School Band London for the Lord Mayor, leadership in the CCF, to furthering my art in the amazing facilities. On top of all this, the boarding environment has meant I have grown up with friends who I know I will continue to have even after leaving CH. They have been there for my highs and lows throughout seven years at the School and that bond will continue as we step into the outside world.

A stand-out achievement from my time at CH has to be getting into the Band. The minute I did my first lunch parade I felt overwhelmed with a feeling of pride – even if I couldn’t immediately march and play at the same time! Due to the Band I’ve been part of so many special engagements, like the annual Lord Mayors Show and Beating Retreat, and the 100 years centenary on Remembrance Day – I really felt part of CH history. Secondly, being picked to go on the Baltimore Exchange was a huge achievement for me. Going to Baltimore, I gained a new sense of independence and confidence in myself, as I adapted to four weeks in an American school and making bonds across the Atlantic which I still hold. Thirdly, becoming a Monitor was a great achievement. It was a position that I had always looked up to as I progressed through the School. So, actually being handed the cuffs was a special moment – knowing the younger pupils would now look to me as the head of the School and that I was able to give back to the School I owed so much to.

The boarding environment at CH has means you get a closer connection with everyone. The tutors in house are always there for you and the teachers are always on call to help. I do Art, so I was always in Art School working away, with lessons and Art preps in the evening. The teachers offered support not just academically but got to know me more as a person as they saw so much of me! They were able to help and guide me during some tough times around my future choices after CH.

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CH has helped develop me as a person so I feel ready to go into the outside world. The work and life at CH means you become organised and independent. From day one, I left my parents to become a full time boarder and had to make my bed for the first time! This independence has carried forward, and I feel very confident to go to University and into a job with the skills I have. But besides that, the diverse community of CH means everyone is understanding and tolerant. You learn to read people and get on with people despite differences. This is a skill which I feel is vital and is something every school should have. There is an element of maturity that comes with that, and people leave CH, I feel, as fully-rounded young adults ready to make our marks on the future.

I used to be not very confident, but CH has enabled me to realise my potential and become more self-assured. CH has definitely opened doors for me and I received results I would never have achieved if I wasn’t fortunate enough to come to CH. The teachers had belief in me, which has made me look positively towards the future. I now hope to do a Foundation Course in Art before heading to University. I am still undecided in the exact degree I want to do, or job, but I know with the support network of Old Blues that there will be people to help me.