FUTURE TALENTED Autumn Term 2018 - Issue 1 | Page 80

Gatsby Benchmarks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Developing character through social action Social action transforms character and improves wellbeing, supporting young people’s success in further and higher education, and employment. aking practical action in the service of others to create positive change is proven to develop young people’s employability skills, boost access to further and higher education and enhance wellbeing. It creates a double benefit – for young people and local communities. Currently, 4 in 10 young people aged 10-20 take part in activities that make a T positive difference, but research indicates that almost double this number would do if they had the chance. The #iwill campaign aims to make social action part of life for as many 10-20 year-olds as possible by 2020. Through collaboration, it spreads the word about the benefits of participating in youth social action. Here, we meet three young ambassadors for the #iwill campaign. NAOMI LEA, 18 HENLLAN, DENBIGHSHIRE, WALES CHARACTER VIRTUES DEVELOPED: • Resilience, perseverance & determination • Confidence • Empathy • Leadership • Hope/optimism What does social action mean to you? When I was six, I followed my mum’s lead in fundraising for my primary school’s PTA – I wanted to give back to the school. It’s become something that I just do without thinking. 80 // WELLBEING I’ve gained listening, communication, public speaking, teamwork and leadership skills, speaking at national conferences and on TV. I’ve learned how the charity sector works, what it takes to be a leader and have a more accurate world view.  How has this helped your mental health? I used to struggle with low confidence and self-esteem, anxiety and panic attacks and found communicating very difficult. Aged 14, I was struggling to stay in lessons due to panic attacks. Social action kept me going. It gave me a chance to try new things with only minimal expectations. With the help of the Fixers Charity, I started my own mental health project to help others. As well as volunteering for organisations such as the NSPCC, I’ve delivered workshops in schools and done media inter views to share my experiences. My mental health project video gained 30,000 views on Facebook over a few days. I’ve made amazing friends who have become a support network. Before I got involved, I struggled to answer a question in class. It truly turned my life around.