Enhancing social action across the Midlands

Enhancing social action across the Midlands

Enhancing social action across the Midlands.

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Bring learning to life in your classroom through WE Schools. WE.org/gb

WITH THE KIND SUPPORT OF

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CONTENTS

Introducing WE Schools / 4

Our Expansion into the Midlands / 6

Programme Benefits / 8

Measuring our Impact / 9

WE Schools Programme Offerings / 10

Timeline of Programme / 16

Meet the Team / 18

Get Involved / 22

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INTRODUCING WE SCHOOLS

Welcome to WE Schools—a free and unique, four step programme that challenges young people to identify the local and global issues that spark their passion, then empowers them with the tools to take action. Our WE Schools programme is reigniting the fundamental purpose of education: moving students to want to learn, preparing them with the skills to better the world and empowering them to forge their own paths to success. Through our educational programme, resources and social action campaigns, students can further their curricular learning and develop the life skills for success. By empowering students to coordinate their own social action projects, they learn skills in leadership, communication and project management. These are 21st-century life skills that are often missed by traditional models of education. Through taking part in the WE Schools programme, you gain exclusive access to curriculum-matched resources, a full calendar of action campaign ideas, and facilitated programming for your school.

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“The WE Schools programme is a great way to get students interested and involved in social issues affecting the local area. Our students have been very excited to learn more and discuss these issues with their peers.”

Jessica Cassidy, The Milford Academy, Nottingham

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OUR EXPANSION INTO THE MIDLANDS

With thanks to generous funding received from the #iwill Fund, WE Schools now has the support to work in-depth with 200 schools in Birmingham and Nottingham. WE is extremely proud to partner with the #iwill Fund. Together, we are focused on one goal: empowering young people to take part in meaningful social action. The #iwill Fund is made possible thanks to £40 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities. The #iwill campaign’s aim is to make social action part of life for as many 10 to 20 year-olds as possible. As a result of this funding, we have been enabled to create our first UK regional team outside of London with a dedicated team of staff members working specifically with schools across Birmingham and Nottingham. This exciting shift of a localised way of working enables us to increase the sustainability of the WE Schools programme and provides schools with a deeper method of engagement with the programme, along with increasing resources and awareness towards the wider volunteer and social action movement taking place in Birmingham and Nottingham currently.

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Our aim for the schools involved in this unique programme in Birmingham and Nottingham, is to create a whole school approach to the WE Schools programme and social action, embedding this into the lives of students, teachers and local community. By creating a bespoke programme for schools in Birmingham and Nottingham, we are able to have a greater reach and provide impactful social action programming to even more young people through the use of face-to-face workshops, one-to-one teacher support and innovative technology solutions. This free programme is accessible for schools across Birmingham and Nottingham, so if you would like to get involved, don’t hesitate to contact our team to learn more and sign up!

Get in touch

Email [email protected]

Phone 020 8266 1616

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PROGRAMME BENEFITS

WE Schools engages more than 5.3 million young people in over 18,000 schools and groups across the UK and North America.

Based on the 2018-2019 Year in Review Survey completed by WE Schools teachers in the UK:

79% of teachers feel they are better equipped to teach about social justice issues through active citizenship-based learning.

82% of teachers report that their students are more likely to stand up for others who are treated unfairly because of their gender, race, religion, ability or sexual orientation.

82% of teachers report that their students demonstrate increased leadership among their peers.

88% of teachers report that their students are now more capable of effectively voicing their own opinion.

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MEASURING OUR IMPACT

During the 2018-2019 school year, students taking part in the WE Schools programme:

584 charitable organisations supported

1,633,609 volunteer hours logged

88,192 kilos of food collected for foodbanks

“Our students that have been involved in the WE Schools programme have grown in confidence, are now more aware of the issues affecting our community and how we as individuals can make a positive difference.”

Vimla Devi, St Michael’s C of E Primary Academy, Birmingham

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WE SCHOOLS PROGRAMME OFFERINGS

Assembly and Workshops Our assemblies educate students about local and global issues and inspire them to take action on a cause that they are passionate about. Our dynamic motivational Programme Facilitators will share personal stories that highlight the importance of social action, and the power that one person has to change the world. Through interactive workshops, Programme Facilitators help young people to discover and explore the issues that matter to them and develop their ideas for social action. By the end of the session, your class will have enhanced their skills as leaders and communicators and built an action plan for making a difference in their local or global community. Digital Programming Modules Through our interactive digital programming modules, teachers are given the tools to deliver social action workshops in their own classrooms. Available as ready-made Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, each one supports students to explore social issues and build their hard and soft skills.

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Curriculum-matched Classroom Resources Designed to easily integrate into your existing curriculum, our differentiated lesson packages are tailored to meet the statutory requirements of each of the UK’s four curriculum. Action Campaigns Our local and global campaigns help students take action on the issues they are passionate about, offering them the tools and the inspiration to take social action, empower others and transform lives. WE Schools CPD We are thrilled to launch our all-new, certified WE Schools CPD modules, designed to help teachers embed social action throughout your school. With interactive presentations, videos and activities, our online modules equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to transform the teaching and learning of social action in your school. Professional Development Webinars Through interactive online sessions, our expert team will guide you through a specific topic or theme. During each session we equip you with relevant tools and resources, highlight examples of best practice and offer practical advice to enable you to move your social action project forwards with confidence. WE Schools Programme Manager Every school that commits to taking part in the WE Schools programme is matched with one of our incredible WE Schools Programme Managers. From meeting with your group and facilitating staff presentations, to highlighting social action projects and getting your group to WE Day, your WE Schools Programme Manager is your go-to point person for all things WE Schools.

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WE Day UK WE Day is a powerful, life-changing event for school groups who have a passion for learning and creating positive impacts. Taking place every March in London, WE Day tickets are free—students earn their tickets through committing to making a change in their local communities. Featuring world-renowned speakers and performers, WE Day combines the energy of a live concert with inspirational stories of leadership and change.

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TIMELINE OF THE WE SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

By taking part in the WE Schools programme, you are committing to implementing a year of social action and positive change! Take a look at our suggested timeline to see how the programme could work in your school.

Autumn Assembly and Introductory Workshops. Led by our Programme Facilitators, this day of inspiration with your social action group will kick-start your year of change and social action projects. Year-long Action Plan. Complete your Year-long Action Plan survey and work with your dedicated WE Schools Programme Manager to choose which social action projects your group will support. WE Schools Teachers’ Forum. Attend the first of two WE Schools Teachers’ Forum events to network with other educators, take part in facilitated discussion activities with our WE staff and explore different elements of the WE Schools programme.

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Spring Further Exploration Workshops. Welcome our team back into your school to run second stage action planning and issues discussion sessions with your group. WE Day UK. Celebrate your progress at our annual youth empowerment event in London. Free of charge, WE Day UK welcomes 12,000 likeminded change-makers each year and your group is invited!

Summer WE Schools Teachers’ Forum. Attend the second of our WE Schools Teachers’ Forum events, where you can discuss the successes and challenges of your group’s projects, hear from experts in the field of education and social action and celebrate with your peers! Year in Review. Complete your Year in Review survey, noting the projects your group have taken part in, the challenges faced, and what you found beneficial about taking part in the WE Schools programme.

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On-going WE Schools CPD. Sign up to complete our WE Schools CPD e-learning across the academic year at a time and pace to suit you, supporting you to embed social action in your school. Social Action Campaigns. Use our free campaign resources to take your social action projects to the next level, learn more about the issue and get the word out! Professional Development Webinars. With a focus on topical and prevalent social issues such as food poverty, homelessness and how to integrate social action into your school’s culture and curriculum, these online sessions are the perfect way to explore an issue and further your own learning as an educator. Digital Programming. Use our ready made PowerPoint presentations to kickstart discussions about different social issues, support student development, or further your group’s action planning.

“The WE Schools programme provides vibrant and interesting classroom resources, prompting our school to take part in more social action projects and consider wider social issues in our communities.” Sally Squires, James Peacock Infant and Nursery School, Nottingham

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MEET OUR DEDICATED BIRMINGHAM TEAM

Imani Clough, WE Schools Partnerships Manager Imani is a huge advocate for social and educational justice, both in the UK and overseas. She has worked as a Pastoral Leader supporting exploited young people and care leavers and is passionate about supporting the well-being and character development of the young people she works with. Imani is also currently working towards a Masters in Character Education at the University of Birmingham. Miranda Banister, WE Schools Manager Miranda has spent over fifteen years working in the education sector; three years in Further Education teaching training and life skills, followed by twelve years teaching Citizenship and R.E. in a Midlands secondary school. Having held roles such as Pupil Voice Coordinator, Assistant SENco and Anti-bullying Lead, Miranda is also a trained Mindfulness practitioner and passionate about showing young people the contribution they are able to make in society.

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Programme Managers

Isabel Stewart Isabel has worked across numerous educational settings, from being a Teaching Assistant, to creating projects for young people who were, for various reasons, apathetic about education. She is a huge advocate for equal access to education, using her BA and MA in Education to specialise in inequality and international issues. Melanie Palmer For the last ten years, Melanie has been teaching at a primary school in North Birmingham, gaining a wealth of knowledge and insight into the primary school system and issues that families and young people face in the local area. She is looking forward to using her experiences to support schools with their social action projects and creating change in the community.

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Programme Facilitators

Chloe Deakin Chloe is a public speaker whose roots are embedded in change making and enabling others to be their best selves. At aged 17, Chloe started her own film company which pioneered platforms for individuals who are normally ‘voiceless’ to have a chance to speak out and be heard. Joel Dowson Joel has lived in Birmingham for the past four years and has completed an undergraduate degree in African Studies. A keen sportsman, Joel is always looking for ways to stay active and support young people in getting outside and finding their passion. Oscar Harvey Oscar studied History and Politics at the University of Leicester, leading him to discover his passion for promoting equality and inclusivity. Whilst at university, Oscar was elected as Student Union Liberation Office, leading inclusive sports campaigns, youth groups for less-abled children, and learning Makaton and BSL. Sophia Downham Sophia has a background in international development studies, with a focus on youth empowerment. She has worked in Tanzania, Malawi and Nepal, and recently managed livelihood teams in rural Nepal for the charity Raleigh International. Discussions about equality, diversity and inclusion are her passion supported by her volunteering for several inclusive organisations.

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GET INVOLVED!

If you are a primary or secondary school located in Birmingham or Nottingham and are looking for a way to embed social action, inspire a generation of change-makers and take the lead in creating positive impact, look no further than WE Schools.

Contact our team today and kick-start your social action journey.

Find out more at WE.org/gb/we-schools and sign up today!

Tel: 020 8266 1616 Email: [email protected]

Follow us @WEmovement

WE Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales (1138645) and Scotland (SC045815).