A series of social action initiatives have provided the platform for pupils at Small Heath Leadership Academy to hone their leadership skills whilst supporting the work of charities across the globe.
Through the First Give programme, Year 8 pupils have been learning about social issues affecting their communities – locally, nationally and internationally. A series of lessons, assemblies and workshops has piqued pupils’ interest and inspired them to use their voices to raise awareness and raise funds.
After researching social injustices and humanitarian disasters, pupils identified causes close to their hearts. Each class then selected a specific charity or campaign to lend their voices to. In their teams, pupils devised a social action campaign before presenting it to a panel of judges for the chance to win a £1,000 donation to their chosen cause.
From flood relief in Pakistan to domestic abuse, issues captured the pupils’ imaginations and ignited their social conscience. They worked tirelessly to promote their chosen cause around the school and to raise funds for the associated charities.
One group arranged for a representative of a local charity to visit and deliver a year group assembly on the Pakistan floods, whilst another wrote to the local MP, who is a high-profile campaigner on the issue of domestic abuse.
Groups within each class will present their work to their peers before voting for the team that will represent their class in the final. The programme will culminate in a grand final at the end of the autumn term when pupils will compete for the £1,000 prize.