About Nathan
Social Entrepreneur / Executive / Motivational Speaker
Nathan John is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Youth Enlightenment Limited. He is a 28 year old from London who is passionate about the development and progression of young people. Nathan has been interviewed over 150 times on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky News, LBC, The Guardian plus more in relation to a range of youth culture and current affairs stories.
“I have seen first hand the difference encouragement and support can make, that is why we are committed to helping young people go beyond boundaries and achieve success.”
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II invited Nathan to a reception at Buckingham Palace on 9th May 2011 to recognise the achievements of young people in the performing arts, those that support them and those organisations with Royal Patronage.
“The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh hosted the reception, which was also attended by The Duke of York, Dame Helen Mirren, Kevin Spacey, Duffy, Michael McIntyre, Goldie, Paterson Joseph, Jamie Cullum, Jules Holland, Shingai Shoniwa (Noisettes), V.V Brown, Paloma Faith, Yolanda Brown, Flawless, Ironik, Joe McElderry, Tamsin Egerton, Rumer, Sylvia Young OBE and many more!”
“I felt very privileged to be amongst so many stars and peers within the performing arts and charitable sector. I am more driven and committed to use my growing influence and network to benefit the community.”
Since 2010, Nathan has organised and hosted a number of events with Barclays to encourage entrepreneurship and achievement amongst young people. Speakers have included Marcus Agius: Barclays Group Chairman, John Winter: CEO of Barclays Corporate, Carole Machell: COO of Barclays Corporate, Colin Nutt: Vice Chairman of Barclays Corporate, Sir Steve Bullock: The Mayor of Lewisham, Nathaniel Peat: CEO of The Safety Box and many more.
In September 2011, Nathan joined the London Deposits team of Barclays Corporate as an Assistant Director, responsible for the Public Sector and Retail & Wholesale industries.
The Barclays Beyond Event highlights video:
IN January 2009 Nathan was included in The Voice newspaper’s top 20 Movers and Shakers of 2009! Other names include President Barack Obama, Baroness Scotland, Lewis Hamilton, Usain Bolt, Levi Roots plus more… He was awarded by the London Youth Corporation for being a Guest Speaker at the first 10/10 Leadership Summit at the Marriott Hotel, Park Lane. In February 2010 he received an Appreciation Award from New Cross Apostolic Ministry.
“My family is an important part of my life and motivates me to achieve unlimited success. I lost my father at a young age and my mum had three jobs at one point so I understand that as a parent you have to go that extra mile!”
Supporting the Community
Adviser to the Stephen Lawrence Review, which was conducted independently by Dr Richard Stone (panel member of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry as Adviser to Sir William Macpherson). His responsibilities included general coordination and project management of the Youth Forum. Other principal Adviser’s included Doreen Lawrence OBE, Perry Nove QPM CBE & Dr David Muir (see SLR Report).
Member of the NPIA’s Stop and Search Community Panel
Member of the Lewisham Youth Task Force.
Hosted a number of entrepreneurship conferences at Barclays and appeared on various panels including one at the BBC Children’s Festival 2009, The London Peace Lecture at the Mayor’s Office plus has chaired a panel at the London Schools and the Black Child conference, which was hosted by the former Mayor of London and Diane Abbott MP
Attended meetings at:1 - Mayor’s Office – Mayor of London, Boris Johnson as part of a forum “discussing urgent solutions to youth violence in London”, which feed into the ‘Time for Action’ strategy,
2 - Home Office – Carole Eniffer, who is the Head of Gun and Knife Crime Section,
3 - New Scotland Yard – Superintendent Leroy Logan MBE
Delivered motivational workshops and inspiring speeches to over 3,000 young people at Schools, Colleges, Community Centres, Feltham YOI, BUC’s ‘Black Boys in Business’ and much more!
Mentored several young people and ran monthly workshops at New Cross Apostolic Church – COOLJC,where he was also a Sunday School Teacher and Youth Leader. He is now an Elder
“I know my purpose is to Be a Light to young people worldwide. St Matt. 5, verse 14 says: Ye are the light of this world. A city that is set on a hill can not be hid. My hearts desire is to work with the youth to make a difference.”
Professional Career / Education
Nathan has 7 years experience working in London for various leading financial institutions. His professional career started at US Bank: Bank One where he was a trainee accountant, he went on to work for Top 4 Accountancy Firm: Ernst & Young LLP, one of the largest Banks in the world: Citigroup and UK Bank: RBS.
Nathan has 10 GCSEs, 3 A’ levels , BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting, Certified Accounting Technician qualified and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants part qualified.
“I came from a single parent home that was surrounded by poverty and negative influences – I made it out so can others”
Media Experience
In addition to presenting On.Point, Nathan has presented in a four minute documentary called ‘Points of Youth’ that was shown at the BBC Children’s Festival 2009, worked with CBeebies where he devised recommendations on improving diversity and worked on BBC1′s Inside Out as a freelance researcher.
Nathan recently worked as a researcher for M & Y Films on a series of one minute films on knife crime, which were funded by the Home Office. He found and interviewed young men whose powerful stories highlight the consequences of choosing to be involved with knives.
Since 2007 Nathan has also been interviewed over 150 times on BBC / ITV / Channel 4 / Sky News / BEN TV /MBC / Bangla TV / Capital 95.8 / LBC / Choice FM / Premier Christian Radio / Colourful Radio / The Guardian /thelondonpaper / U.S News and World Report / The Voice Newspaper / Epoch Times plus local newspapers in relation to challenges facing young people while proposing solutions. Watch our new Media Relations video on Youtube.
Click here for the 2007 to 2010 list of Y-E-L interviews.
Recent Interview List
Sky News RadioNews Bulletin “Gang injunctions”
on 31/01/2011
Premier Christian Radio
“Christian youthworkers criticise yob orders”
on 07/02/2011
Premier Christian Radio (live)
Premier Drive’s The Review
on 22/03/2011 at 3:10pm to 4pm
Premier Christian Radio
Premier News Talk
on 26/03/2011 at 11:30am
BBC Radio 5 Live (live)
Stephen Nolan Show
“How responsible are parents for ASBO youth?”
on 01/04/2011 at 10:20pm
Premier Christian Radio (live)
Premier Drive’s The Review
on 05/07/2011 at 4:10pm to 5pm
Sky News (live)
Sky News at 10 with Stephen Dixon “Tottenham Riots”
on 07/08/2011 at 10:13pm.
Watch on YouTube
Sky News (live)
Sky News Press Preview
on 07/08/2011 at 11:28pm
Sky News (live)Sky News with Dermot Murnaghan “London Riots”
on 08/08/2011 at 12:50pm
Feature Story News
Major Chinese Broadcaster “London Riots”
on 08/08/2011
Russia Today (live)
“London Riots”
on 08/08/2011 at 7:20pm
Sky News (live)
“London Riots”
on 08/08/2011 at 8:06pm.
Watch on YouTube
BBC World Service Radio (live)
The World Today “UK Riots”
on 09/08/2011 at 7:30am
Trans World Radio
“UK Riots”
on 09/08/2011
BBC Radio 5 Live (live)
Shelagh Fogarty Show “Riots reaction”
on 09/08/2011 at 12:24pm
Premier Christian Radio (live)
Premier Drive “UK Riots”
on 09/08/2011 at 3:10pm
Al Jazeera News (live)Newshour “Copycat Criminality”
on 09/08/2011 at 7:40pm.
Watch on YouTube
BBC Three Counties Radio (live)
The Other One Show “Is there a lost generation?”
on 10/08/2011 at 1:38pm
Irish Times
“The week two Englands clashed”,
article published on 13/08/2011.
Read it online
BBC Three Counties Radio (live)
Justin Dealey Show “Are all young people thugs?”
on 13/08/2011 at 7:38am
BBC News (live)
“Parental Responsibility”
on 13/08/2011 at 5:18pm.
Watch on YouTube
BBC Birmingham Radio
“Parental Responsibility”
on 15/08/2011 at 12:10pm
Channel 4
4thought.tv “Why did the riots happen?”
on 17/08/2011 at 7:55pm.
Watch online
