WELLBEING
TIPS FOR SCHOOLS
CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH
YOUTH SOCIAL ACTION
84
1
% 82-83 %
of Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award
participants said the
award increased
their resilience and
responsibility
74 %
of participants in
London Youth’s Get
Ready programme
reported an average
26 %
positive change
across all social and
emotional capabilities
2
of Girl Guides
said their
confidence and
leadership skills
increased
68
%
of volunteers in higher
education felt greater
motivation and
self-discipline as a
result of volunteering
3
4
UT YOUTH SOCIAL ACTION AT THE HEART OF YOUR SCHOOL OR COLLEGE
P
• Embed it in your vision and mission.
• Make it the lens through which the curriculum is learned.
• Appoint a senior leader responsible for youth social action.
INSPIRE AND REWARD YOUTH SOCIAL ACTION
• Recognise and celebrate youth social action in and out of
school or college.
• Inspire students with role models who are strong social action
ambassadors and vice versa – peers, ex-students, parents
and grandparents.
• Recruit staff who are strong social action ambassadors and inspire
existing staff members to get involved.
E MPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEAD YOUTH SOCIAL ACTION
• Ask their opinions, harness their passions.
• Start as early as possible – five years old is not too young.
UILD STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
B
• Bring in high-quality providers – try partnering with national or local
organisations to access opportunities and resources.
• Work with local charities and employers to understand the local
community and how young people can make a difference.
RESOURCES
You can download a range of resources
to help embed social action across the
educational journey of all young people.
bit.ly/EducationYouthSocialAction
QUICK
What would you say to others
considering social action?
Find something you like the
sound of and throw yourself into
it. You’ll benefit a cause, gain
skills, friends, experiences to talk
about in job inter views,
confidence and more.
Experience is as important
as qualifications, if not more so,
and social action helps you gain
that. Whether you take part in
social action that directly relates
to your personal career
prospects, or something
different, there are transferable
skills to gain. Social action
helps you to stand out
from the crowd.
“I had low confidence
and self-esteem;
social action gave me a
chance to try new
things with minimal
expectations”
• Youth social action is practical
action in the service of others to
create positive change, such as
campaigning, fundraising
and volunteering.
• It benefits local ca uses, while
enhancing confidence and
employability skills in young people.
• The #iwill campaign aims to make
social action part of life for as many
10-20 year-olds as possible by 2020,
and is working with Ofsted and the
Department for Education.
FUTURE TALENT // 81