YouthNet, together with O2, launches ‘digital mate’ to motivate young people to achieve employment goals

by Zoë Bailie (she/her)

Deputy CEO/Chief Development Officer

Monday 17th November 2014

PRESS RELEASE- 00.01hrs, Monday 17 November 2014

A free mobile app to motivate young people to achieve their career and employment goals, is being launched today by digital charity, YouthNet, together with O2.

Called ‘Motimator’, the app is a ‘digital mate to motivate’. It has been designed and developed by a group of 12 young volunteers, aged 18-24, supported by YouthNet and digital telecommunications company O2. The volunteers were recruited by GoThinkBig, which is O2 and Bauer Media’s work experience initiative.

The app has been created to inspire and motivate young job-seekers on their journey to employment whether they are currently looking for work or still in education and planning their future career.

The innovative project follows research by YouthNet and Nominet Trust* which revealed that for young people their phone was a trusted friend and – like any good mate – should be a supporter and motivator.

This is how the app works. Once you’ve downloaded Motimator free for iPhone, iPads and Android devices from www.motimator.org, simply pick a ‘motivation mate’ from the app’s menu and then sit back as your mate sends you daily tips and inspiration, plus facts about getting into the industry of your choice.

The tips and hints from Motimator are taken from TheSite, the UK’s trusted information source for young people (run by YouthNet), and from GoThinkBig.co.uk among others.

You can even personalise Motimator, by uploading your own image (or someone who inspires you) to help give you that extra kick-up-the-arse to achieve your goals.

Five cool things that Motimator can do:

• Provide you with expert advice and tips on how to achieve your career goals.
• Help you to bounce back from setbacks: Motimator is your very own personal cheerleader, giving you the confidence to stay upbeat through the bad job-hunting times.
• Break down overwhelming goals into daily bite-sized ones, making even the biggest ideas feel more achievable.
• Make you stand out from the crowd: in an increasingly competitive job market, Motimator’s insider tips can help you break into the industry of your choice.
• Help you to stop just talking about the career you want, and focus on getting it, by sending you daily messages of encouragement.

What’s more, Motimator is linked to TheSite – which features thousands of advice articles and videos, opportunities for live chats with experts and a thriving community, all there to help.

Among those involved in the research, design and development of Motimator was 19 year old Ahdab Nasir, a Bsc Multimedia Computing student at Westminster University. She says: “We looked at the struggles young people found when looking for employment and thought how we could solve this digitally. We brainstormed the idea in different ways and even did an Apprentice like activity where we pitched our ideas to the YouthNet and GoThinkBig staff who were in the roles of Lord Sugar and his team.

“I’ve learnt so many digital skills and it was really interesting to be involved in every stage of the process. I’m really proud of the final Motimator app and I hope that it will help other young people to fulfil their employment goals.”

YouthNet Chief Executive, Emma Thomas, says: “We hope that through Motimator, we can support and inspire young people to stay motivated, take positive action when seeking employment and improve their future employability prospects. Our thanks go to O2 Go Think Big for supporting this project, and to all the young people who devoted their time and energy to making this app a reality.”

Tracey Herald, Head of Community at O2, says: “The Motimator app is a great example of the role that digital technology can play in improving access to advice and opportunities that will help young people to achieve their employment goals. The app provides a welcome addition to our existing digital support for young jobseekers through GoThinkBig. We’re delighted to work in partnership with YouthNet and a group of talented young volunteers to help many more young people on the path to employment.”

Ends

*Source: Supporting young people through mobile technology, YouthNet and Nominet Trust, 2012. http://mobilesupport.youthnet.org/insight/

• Motimator is available now to preview iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/motimator/id935629963?mt=8
  Google play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.youthnet.motimator&hl=en_GB

If you would like to interview the young people involved in the project, please contact the YouthNet press office.

YouthNet media contacts: [email protected] tel: 07910 154673 or [email protected] tel: 020 7250 5713. Out of hours: 07766 660 755 or @YouthNetUK

O2 Press Office: [email protected] or 01753 565656.

Notes to editor:
YouthNet is the charity behind online guide to life, TheSite, which supports around 1 million 16 to 25 year olds in the UK each year.
The UK’s first exclusively online charity, YouthNet creates digital solutions to ease young people’s isolation and to make their lives better.
YouthNet has developed a range of complementary digital services to support young people:
TheSite – the guide to life for 16 to 25 year-olds, with 2,000 articles/videos/blogs about job seeking, housing, sexual health,
mental wellbeing, drugs and more
StepFinder – Local help, easily found. An app that pin-points the nearest local support service and shows young people how to get there and what to expect.
MadlyIn Love– A digital service where young people can share how they feel about sex, love and mental health.