Our history

2023

Resurgo celebrates 20 years of impact on society

Resurgo celebrates 20 years of impact on society

2023 marks 20 years since Resurgo was founded in West London by Revd Tom Jackson MBE and Jo Rice, who had a vision to bring lasting change to young people experiencing poverty who were not able to access the opportunities that were available to them. Watch our 20th-anniversary film here.

Resurgo marks 9,000 young people supported

This month, we enrolled our 9,000th trainee onto our award-winning Spear Programme, which supports 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to step into their full potential and thrive in work.

The Spear Programme launches in Cheltenham

Delivered in partnership with Trinity Cheltenham, the programme will be pioneering a new phase in Spear’s development, by delivering a new and streamlined version.

Christopher Wagstaff, Centre Manager, says, “We are so excited to be launching Spear Cheltenham in January. We cannot wait to start welcoming young people and to work with them to realise their potential.” 

2022

A royal visit

A royal visit

HRH Prince Charles visits a Re-Work taster session run as part of a Love Your Neighbour event for Afghan Nationals. Resurgo is excited to host the session at HTB Earl’s Court, where HRH hears directly from those who have fled Afghanistan about their experiences.

Resurgo pilots a lighter-touch version of Spear

With the desire to make the award-winning Spear Programme more accessible for young people all over the UK, Resurgo tailors a lighter-touch model, which we launch in Preston.

Spear goes West

Resurgo partners with Christ Church, Clifton, to launch Spear Bristol, our fourth centre to open outside of London as part of our ambition to expand across the UK. Bristol’s Centre Manager says, “Being from Bristol myself, I always hoped we could bring Spear to this city, and I am so excited to see that become a reality.”

2022 and beyond

Resurgo sets itself strategic goals for this year with a new clear mission statement – to inspire and equip organisations to bring about ambitions and sustainable social change through our expertise in coaching, impact management and programme delivery.

2021

Resurgo Consulting in 2021…

… has worked with more than 27 clients, delivering over 2,160 hours of coaching to nearly 550 individuals. Clients spanned various sectors and industries from finance to healthcare.

Visit to No. 10

Visit to No. 10

Resurgo’s CEO Jo Rice and Junior Bayode (a Resurgo Trustee) visit N0. 10 to discuss sentencing strategies with Myles Stacey.

Back in person

Group of people seated at event applauding

As Covid-19 restrictions ease, Resurgo is buzzing to return to in-person delivery of the Spear Programme and our Resurgo Consulting services.

Gunva B becomes a Resurgo Ambassador

Gunva B becomes a Resurgo Ambassador

The MOBO award-winning rapper said he is “…honoured to be an Ambassador for Resurgo and help them in connecting young people with the bright future they’re so capable of having.”

Princess Royal Covid Commendation

Princess Royal Covid Commendation

Resurgo is delighted to be one of five ‘Highly Commended’ organisations in the new Princess Royal Training Award Covid Commendation, recognising our exemplary training, learning and development response in the face of Covid-19.

Our first spear centre Celebrates 100 Cohorts

17 years since our first Spear centre opened its doors in Hammersmith, we celebrate its 100th cohort of trainees. Since its inception, Spear Hammersmith and Fulham has supported more than 1400 young people, some of whom join this celebration to speak about their journeys since 2004.

 

By the sea-side

Resurgo partners with LOVECHURCH to open a new Spear centre in Bournemouth, continuing our growth across the UK and allowing us to reach more young people facing different barriers to employment.

2020

Re-Work launches

In response to the rise in unemployment stemming from the Covid19 crisis, Resurgo launches Re-Work. Taking our expertise in employment coaching from the Spear Programme, we partner with different churches to support adults who are experiencing unemployment.

Covid19 compels Resurgo to pivot

Covid19 compels Resurgo to pivot

The Covid19 pandemic provides both challenge and opportunity. Resurgo partners with the Church Revitalisation Trust to launch Love Your Neighbour – a national church-led response to the crisis, and works hard to provide a new digital offering of the Spear Programme.

2019

Spear goes North

Resurgo partners with Bridge Community Church to launch the Spear Programme in Leeds. This centre launches in line with Resurgo’s ambition to expand across the UK, to help change the lives of young people who are facing different barriers to getting into work or education.

2019 and beyond

Large group of people seated on stage and smiling to camera

Resurgo seeks to expand its social impact across the UK through more Spear centres, Resurgo Ventures and Resurgo Consulting

2018

First Spear centre outside of London opens in Brighton

Interior of St Peters Brighton church with full congregation

Resurgo partners with St Peter’s Brighton to launch the award-winning Spear programme in Brighton in September, the first Spear centre to open outside London. The centre’s work aims to change the lives of 90 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds each year.

Resurgo Consulting launches

Blonde woman in glasses smiling at man

Resurgo Consulting launches, to provide coaching services to organisations to increase trust and improve outcomes,  through a flagship Coaching for Leadership Programme and bespoke offerings.

HM Queen honours Resurgo Founder with M.B.E.

Revd Tom Jackson MBE in suit in front of leafy background

Resurgo founder Tom Jackson is appointed Member of the British Empire in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to young people and the community.

Spear reaches 5,000 trainees

Woman laughing sat with young people

By 2018, Spear is operating in eight different centres across London, and has reached a total of 5,000 trainees.

Resurgo Ventures Social Impact Accelerator launched

Group of millenials smiling to camera in front of blue feature wall

First cohort of 7 entrepreneurs creating social impact in areas such as trafficking, suporting ex-offenders into work and addressing food poverty.

Resurgo celebrates 15 years!

Resurgo celebrates 15 years! This is an important milestone in the life of the organisation, and we’re so grateful to our supporters for making this possible.

2017

Resurgo is awarded the prestigious Princess Royal Training Award

Group of people holding award outside with railings

Resurgo is chosen as a winner of the prestigious Princess Royal Training Award, which is given to organisations whose internal training is recognised to be of exceptional quality. Following an inspection by an independent assessor, we were thrilled to be named as a recipient, along with 40 other UK businesses and organisations.

2016

Resurgo is listed as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces

Resurgo is ranked fourth in this year’s UK Best Workplaces Award in the Small Business category. Tom O’Byrne, Great Place to Work® CEO says: “It is a validation of the strength of [Resurgo’s] leadership and their commitment to creating the kind of culture where employees enjoy coming to work and want to do their best. The hallmark of a great workplace like Resurgo is that their policies and practices are designed around the employee; this employee focus helps attract and retain the talent essential for driving and sustaining competitive performance.”

2015

Resurgo is awarded the ERSA Award

Three women smiling at camera at ERSA awards

Resurgo is awarded the ERSA Award for Services to Youth Unemployment, in recognition of the Spear programme. The ERSA Employability Awards seek to celebrate people and organisations working across the employment support sector to help jobseekers in their journey towards employment, including specialist employment support organisations, personal advisors, employers and jobseekers themselves.

 

Resurgo Ventures is launched

Group of people from behind looking out over city skyline

Resurgo Ventures is launched, with a vision to start building a new generation of leading businesses looking to make an unbelievable difference in the world.

2013

Resurgo wins the Guardian Charity Awards

Resurgo wins the Guardian Charity Awards for our strong contribution to social welfare, excellence and innovation among small and medium-sized charities

Former US President Jimmy Carter visits Resurgo Trust

In a delightful echo to our original inspiration, former US President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter, visits Resurgo in honour of Nelson Mandela’s commitment to highly effective local community organisations. Resurgo was selected by The Elders, a group of global leaders gathered by Mandela, to work for peace and human rights.

2012

Miranda Hart becomes Resurgo Ambassador

Miranda Hart with cup and saucer and floral background

Multi-award-winning comedian, actor and writer, Miranda Hart says “I’m honoured to be Resurgo’s Ambassador – the work is a huge inspiration to me and I hope you’ll join me by getting involved.”

2011

1000 young people supported

Group of young people with silly poses against purple wall

Two more Spear centres open, in Shepherd’s bush and Fulham, taking the total reach to 1,000 young people

2010

David Cameron visits Spear Hammersmith

David Cameron in suit smiling with group of people

David Cameron visits Spear Hammersmith, commenting: ‘I have seen at first hand the difference you are making, giving people the motivation and practical life skills they need to make a success of their lives.’

Resurgo Trust selected onto Impetus portfolio

Resurgo Trust receives an initial grant of £50,000, together with pro bono support

2008

Spear’s second centre opens

Young person holding certificate with keyboard and music stand in background

A second Spear centre opens on the World’s End estate in Chelsea.

2004

The first Spear Programme runs in Hammersmith

Group of five young people smiling with screen in background

Resurgo is constituted as a charitable company

Resurgo was constituted as a charitable company as co-founder Jo Rice joins the organisation.

Planning begins

A group of trustees from St.Paul’s Hammersmith began to gather together to create a charity which would provide advice and training to local people.

1996

Our vision was born

Living in South Africa, Resurgo Co-Founder Tom Jackson was struck by the example of Nelson Mandela and the spirit of “nation-building” he released in others. Tom encountered ordinary people that were inspired to create jobs, build homes and volunteer in hospitals, to help equip those facing challenging circumstances to change their lives. Upon return to the UK, Tom begins to consider – what might a similar movement of citizens look like to strengthen society in the UK?