Dave Linton
Founder | CEO at Madlug C.I.C- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
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Bio
![](https://topline.com/assets/anonymous-img-9f49529a77f944bfe705d654103d093fb9bd60ae580a6244ed866352480baec0.png)
Ruth Young ACIM
It was an absolute honour and privilege to work with Dave and the team at Madlug. Dave has a clear sense of purpose in the mission of Madlug and leads the company with humility and clarity. His heart for children in care shines through and drives everything he does to raise the profile of Madlug in order to improve these children's lives selflessly. He has a great perspective on message and marketing all because he knows telling the story of the brand effectively will support more kids in need. Thank you for welcoming me to the team to work alongside you for a time.
![](https://topline.com/assets/anonymous-img-9f49529a77f944bfe705d654103d093fb9bd60ae580a6244ed866352480baec0.png)
Stephen McClelland
Dave Linton's entrepreneurial journey tells a truly inspirational story. A story which illustrates wonderfully the powerful role of the storyteller in giving life to new ideas and influencing humanity. Dave's 'black bag story' like all powerful stories is a communal currency, in this case it tells of the silent suffering of thousands of young people within our care system. Dave in telling his story has helped give thousands of young people without a voice the opportunity to tell their story. Dave's story gives young people back their value, worth and dignity. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." --Maya Angelou
![](https://topline.com/assets/anonymous-img-9f49529a77f944bfe705d654103d093fb9bd60ae580a6244ed866352480baec0.png)
Ruth Young ACIM
It was an absolute honour and privilege to work with Dave and the team at Madlug. Dave has a clear sense of purpose in the mission of Madlug and leads the company with humility and clarity. His heart for children in care shines through and drives everything he does to raise the profile of Madlug in order to improve these children's lives selflessly. He has a great perspective on message and marketing all because he knows telling the story of the brand effectively will support more kids in need. Thank you for welcoming me to the team to work alongside you for a time.
![](https://topline.com/assets/anonymous-img-9f49529a77f944bfe705d654103d093fb9bd60ae580a6244ed866352480baec0.png)
Stephen McClelland
Dave Linton's entrepreneurial journey tells a truly inspirational story. A story which illustrates wonderfully the powerful role of the storyteller in giving life to new ideas and influencing humanity. Dave's 'black bag story' like all powerful stories is a communal currency, in this case it tells of the silent suffering of thousands of young people within our care system. Dave in telling his story has helped give thousands of young people without a voice the opportunity to tell their story. Dave's story gives young people back their value, worth and dignity. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." --Maya Angelou
![](https://topline.com/assets/anonymous-img-9f49529a77f944bfe705d654103d093fb9bd60ae580a6244ed866352480baec0.png)
Ruth Young ACIM
It was an absolute honour and privilege to work with Dave and the team at Madlug. Dave has a clear sense of purpose in the mission of Madlug and leads the company with humility and clarity. His heart for children in care shines through and drives everything he does to raise the profile of Madlug in order to improve these children's lives selflessly. He has a great perspective on message and marketing all because he knows telling the story of the brand effectively will support more kids in need. Thank you for welcoming me to the team to work alongside you for a time.
![](https://topline.com/assets/anonymous-img-9f49529a77f944bfe705d654103d093fb9bd60ae580a6244ed866352480baec0.png)
Stephen McClelland
Dave Linton's entrepreneurial journey tells a truly inspirational story. A story which illustrates wonderfully the powerful role of the storyteller in giving life to new ideas and influencing humanity. Dave's 'black bag story' like all powerful stories is a communal currency, in this case it tells of the silent suffering of thousands of young people within our care system. Dave in telling his story has helped give thousands of young people without a voice the opportunity to tell their story. Dave's story gives young people back their value, worth and dignity. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." --Maya Angelou
![](https://topline.com/assets/anonymous-img-9f49529a77f944bfe705d654103d093fb9bd60ae580a6244ed866352480baec0.png)
Ruth Young ACIM
It was an absolute honour and privilege to work with Dave and the team at Madlug. Dave has a clear sense of purpose in the mission of Madlug and leads the company with humility and clarity. His heart for children in care shines through and drives everything he does to raise the profile of Madlug in order to improve these children's lives selflessly. He has a great perspective on message and marketing all because he knows telling the story of the brand effectively will support more kids in need. Thank you for welcoming me to the team to work alongside you for a time.
![](https://topline.com/assets/anonymous-img-9f49529a77f944bfe705d654103d093fb9bd60ae580a6244ed866352480baec0.png)
Stephen McClelland
Dave Linton's entrepreneurial journey tells a truly inspirational story. A story which illustrates wonderfully the powerful role of the storyteller in giving life to new ideas and influencing humanity. Dave's 'black bag story' like all powerful stories is a communal currency, in this case it tells of the silent suffering of thousands of young people within our care system. Dave in telling his story has helped give thousands of young people without a voice the opportunity to tell their story. Dave's story gives young people back their value, worth and dignity. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." --Maya Angelou
![](https://topline.com/assets/review-image-e9f67a44f9f6b1204c8a15ab271f410a1378b83eafbaf9575ee40b82e42f038d.png)
Experience
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Founder | CEO
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Apr 2015 - Present
Most children and young people in care have their belongings moved in black plastic bin bags or plastic shopping bags. Madlug is an award-winning bag brand that stands for ‘make a difference luggage’. With every bag purchased, a pack-away travel bag goes to a child in care. THE STORY Back in the late spring of 2014 while I was attending an introduction to fostering course with his wife, I was shown a video interview of a young girl in a wheelchair who made the following statement: “Health trusts don’t provide suitcases. Sometimes foster carers loan us a suitcase but more often our belongings are moved in black plastic bin bags and we lose our dignity”. This statement really stuck with me and for the remainder of the evening I thought of nothing else except the fact that these kids belongings are being moved about in nothing more than bin bags. The mere fact of a black bin bag carrying an individual’s belonging around brought me to tears. I was moved immediately that evening to think over ways in which I could help these vulnerable children in care make their way with dignity. As I continued to research and think through many possible solutions I was continually drawn to the value & worth of children in care and that they deserve to live and make their way with Dignity. I was also drawn to the fact that the use of bin bags to move children and young people in care was an issue globally. My attention was now focused on a greater scale for increasing the value and worth of these children and raising the awareness of this core issue in helping them make their way with dignity. It was at this point Madlug™ (Making a Difference Luggage) was born. @weareMadlug
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Invest NI Approved Mentor
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Aug 2016 - Mar 2017
I was part of the mentoring team for the Social Enterprise Hubs programme. Durring this time I mentored a number of individuals and community groups in establishing social enterprises. Two that really stand out for me is 'Studyseed CIC' which is an ethical tutoring business and the award winning 'Outside In' which is a streetwear brand bridging the gap between society and those without a home. I was part of the mentoring team for the Social Enterprise Hubs programme. Durring this time I mentored a number of individuals and community groups in establishing social enterprises. Two that really stand out for me is 'Studyseed CIC' which is an ethical tutoring business and the award winning 'Outside In' which is a streetwear brand bridging the gap between society and those without a home.
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Leadership Team Member
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Sep 2013 - Sep 2016
After graduating from Arrow I have now joined the leadership team who are involved in the delivery of the current programme. After graduating from Arrow I have now joined the leadership team who are involved in the delivery of the current programme.
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Grace Fellowship
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United States
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Religious Institutions
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1 - 100 Employee
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Youth Coordinator
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Oct 2015 - Jul 2016
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Magheralin Parish Church
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Religious Institutions
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1 - 100 Employee
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Youth Coordinator
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Jun 2010 - May 2015
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Strandtown Baptist Church
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United Kingdom
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Religious Institutions
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1 - 100 Employee
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Youth Coordinator
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Mar 2005 - Jun 2010
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EM
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United States
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Retail
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1 - 100 Employee
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Youth Work Consultant
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May 2001 - Mar 2005
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Sales
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Jan 2000 - May 2001
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Aspley Evangelical Church
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United Kingdom
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Religious Institutions
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Youth Worker
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Sep 1998 - Oct 1999
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Capernwray Hall
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Spectator Sports
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1 - 100 Employee
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Swimming Pool Manager
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Sep 1995 - Sep 1998
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Clifton Park Baptist Church
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United States
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Religious Institutions
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1 - 100 Employee
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Youth Worker
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Jan 1991 - Sep 1993
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Education
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Arrow Leadership Programme
Leadership -
Capernwray Hall, England
Bible/Biblical Studies -
Monkstown Community School
General Studies
Community
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