Ruth Ibegbuna is the founder of the multi award-winning youth leadership charity RECLAIM and The Roots Programme, a radical new approach to bridging divides between UK communities.
Ruth is a passionate voice for young people and a ‘professional northerner’ – always pushing for greater recognition for the talents and leadership that exist outside London, Ruth works hard to connect influencers in the capital with new opportunities to learn from those from different parts of the country. Ruth is a highly successful social entrepreneur who is passionate about all sections of business and society working together to enable ambitious social change.
Ruth’s set up has gone from strength to strength, picking up numerous awards along the way. These have included:
– Manchester Peace Activist of the Year, 2008
– Manchester Woman of the Year 2009
– National Business in the Communities Winner 2011
– Northern Power Women Award 2017
Ruth is a Clore Social Fellow and an Ashoka UK Fellow and was listed in The Sunday Times as one of the 500 most influential people in the UK. She was also listed by Virgin as one of the top six female changemakers internationally. Ruth wrote a book in 2014 titled ‘On Youth’ to showcase the stories of Manchester young people.
Clients include YouTube, Google, Amnesty International, RSA, Manchester Metropolitan University, KPMG and The International School of Geneva.
Ruth is a powerful and motivational speaker and storyteller. She has overcome a great number of challenges and has an infectious strengths-based approach to her own life. She is inspiring, warm and witty and audiences have described her style as fresh, authentic, challenging and inclusive.
