Check out our 2023-24 Impact Report!
Our latest impact report for the 2023-24 academic year is now available! Inside you’ll find a whole wealth of information of the work we’ve been carrying out over the past academic year!
Help us celebrate the launch of a very special new rap track and music video from Benitez, Kizz, Bagins & Mystical Truth for the debut single ‘I Won’t Give Up’ which launches today, Wednesday 14th August 2024! This dynamic new track is written,, produced, mixed and performed by young people as a united stand against knife crime, drugs, gang culture, and youth violence.
This exciting project came together over the past few months as Unloc brought together young artists to aim for social justice as part of Unloc’s Inspiring Change programme. This is a unique initiative working in partnership with young people from the Portsmouth area who have a lived experience of violence, asking them to use their experiences and ambitions, and to channel that energy into designing youth-led social action projects that tackle the root cause in their communities.
In partnership with Music Fusion and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Hampshire and the Isle Of Wight, we’ve challenged young changemakers with creating social action projects that make a difference, make a statement using lived experiences as a foundation – then supported them to make their project a reality.
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These projects contribute to preventing people from becoming the victims of crime themselves. The young people involved are on a journey of discovery and learning, exploring youth violence in their community, before being supported to create, design, set-up and run their own social action project to build awareness or action on the issue amongst their peers and the wider community.
One of these amazing groups has written, rapped, and created an emotive rap and music video about the many aspects of knife crime, including the reasons behind it, self harm, the implications on their lives and community and the detrimental impact. Featuring rappers Benitez, Kizz, Bagins & Mythical Truth, with beats by Leon, and recorded at the Music Fustion studio, with recording, mixed and mastering by Blessed – the group have created a stunning single in ‘I Won’t Give Up’ that we are so incredibly proud of.
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Backed by an official music video filmed and edited by the talent at Questionable Motives, the track is available now on Spotify and Youtube for everyone to listen to, enjoy, and hear about these young people’s real lived experiences.
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Unloc’s Managing Director Hayden Taylor said:
“This is the first time we’ve had young people create such an impressive social action project such as this, taking their real lives, thoughts and experiences – and using all they’ve learnt about social action and youth voice through our Inspiring Change programme, and channeling all that knowledge and passion into creating something really special and impactful. I know our Facilitators Beth and Jess have enjoyed working on this project immensely, and have been impressed and inspired through the creativity and energy these young changemakers have put into this project.”
“We also want to say a massive thank you Music Fusion, and to Donna Jones and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & the Isle of Wight, it’s their support and partnership on this project which has allowed us to deliver something so unique and special, a project that speaks to young people in their own language and culture. Thank you so much, I know that they are just as proud as we are at this amazing single and music video, we can’t wait to share it with everyone!”
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The single is available to watch and listen to now on Spotify and YouTube.
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Click here to find out more about Music Fusion
Click here for more on the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight
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The ballots are counted, the seats are filled, and collectively, the entire country is waiting to see how the new government kicks into gear. It’s been a tumultuous time, a different election to any we’ve experienced before. So what did we, as specialists supporting young people to be changemakers, learn during this period?
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Covid, Brexit and Cost of Living – the last few years have felt like a rollercoaster; so young people felt compelled to get involved in the debate
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The General Election was an eye opener for many of us, and the Academic sector was no exception. Working with young people in schools and colleges across the country each day, we have seen young people more interested and invested in political debate during this year’s election (and whilst the data is not yet readily available, it’s expected that the chasm between 18-24 year olds and 65+ in terms of voter turnout will have shrunk).
‘Why is that?’ That’s a complicated question. There’s no doubt that we live in complex times, and young people – more than many other sections of society, have faced huge disruptions to their lives over the past four years, especially because of the Covid19 pandemic. Whilst many workers nationwide were furloughed, young people were expected to carry on and achieve just as much – all be it from the safety of their home, or behind protective screens, masks and social distancing in schools.
From their routines being abandoned, their educations hugely impacted, confinement inside the house during lockdowns, and perhaps most importantly – being isolated from their friends and peers at a time when socialisation is so vitally important to their development, their mental health and their sense of general wellbeing.
Add to this the perception of a lack of job opportunities and work experience for young people, housing costs soaring, waiting lists for mental health assessments and counselling reaching three years, Brexit and the Cost of Living crisis – many young people have felt like they’ve been strapped into a rollercoaster and thus (in the main) did one of two things; the majority engaged in this general election with vigour, energy and interest particularly motivated by their own recent rollercoaster-like lived experiences, or sadly, they disconnected altogether.
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Many young people were surprised to discover an Election can turn into a shouting match
Indeed this was never more evident here than during the series of televised election debates and Question Time specials, where the British public were witness to shouting, accusations, fingers in people’s faces, and aggressive and confrontational behaviour that many young people found surprising. In the build up to the election, we showed the BBC’s Election Debate highlights reel to hundreds of young people and the near-unanimous response was shock – is this how we ‘do’ politics in this country?
This feeling was emboldened by the campaign’s reliance on rhetoric; where conflation and confusion between what is truthful, facts or policy is mainstream. This ran counter to many of the young people I spoke to in the build up to 4th July, who were genuinely interested in talking about and debating the issues and policies that matter to them the most.
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I think young people expected more from the National Debate around the future of our country – yearned for more meaningful conversation and discussion. With Unloc’s Public Speaking and Debating programme as one of our core offers, we’ve shown young people for over a decade how to have constructive debate, embrace nuance and compassionately and considerately engage with people and situations where a difference of opinion is apparent.
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The top 5 things young people told us they want from the new government
At Unloc we proudly play an impartial role in connecting young changemakers to policymakers, politicians and activists – giving them access to those in society that can help make a difference, and helping to create platforms for young people’s voices to be heard. With the General Election announced far earlier than anyone expected, we recognised this eagerness in young people to be actively involved in what was happening, and identified that they had little platforms to do so. Whilst lots of these young people won’t have been old enough to vote this time around – it was evident that they have plenty to say about our future society.
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So, during the build up to the General Election, we invited young people from across our network to attend a series of events that provided space for them to meet with representatives from all major parties – and discuss, face to face, the issues they care about most.
Events were held in our Changemaker Studios: Westminster space and also in our Changemaker Studios: Portsmouth space, where respected members from the Labour Party, The Conservatives, The Green Party, The Liberal Democrats and Reform UK agreed to take part and face tough questions from young people in person. These events were the brainchild of Unloc’s Youth Board – instead of a traditional hustings or question time event, they wanted to give young people dedicated time with candidates in small groups, enabling discussions and conversations that go beyond the soundbites.
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Whilst a plethora of topics and issues were explored, here are the top 5 themes that were most prominent:
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1. Investing in Mental Health Services
Many young people feel that waiting lists for CAMHS support remain unjustifiably long and that schools remain under-resourced and under-prepared to properly meet the wellbeing needs of learners
2. Investing In Life Skills
A significant number of the young people feel that education needs yet further connectivity to industry and the wider world, so young people can better understand the relevance of their learning. At the same time, many feel knowledge critical to transitioning to adulthood should find its way into mainstream education including mortgages, savings, budgeting and personal nutrition.
3. Taking Action on Climate
Climate was a discussion on nearly every table during our General Election events. Young people on the whole want a more ambitious, exciting roadmap for taking action on climate change.
4. Ensuring House Ownership is Affordable
A significant number of young people shared their fears and concerns about the affordability of home ownership for their generation. Many expressed a desire for the government to do more to ensure young people can get on the property ladder, whilst also ensuring that critical infrastructure was in place (doctors, local services etc) if the Government was going to move forward with their house building plans.
5. A Government That Invests In Young People’s Participation
Lots of the audience spoke passionately about the wide chasm that exists between political decision makers and younger people. They want a government that invests in opportunities for young people to be democratically active and engaged in civic life.
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Supporting young people to be changemakers has never been more important
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As the new Labour Government kicks into gear over the coming months, we know that Unloc can continue to play a powerful role in connecting young changemakers with the policymakers that serve them. We met the Prime Minister, Sir Kier Starmer, a few months ago, and pressed the message that the new Government needs to invest in young people as changemakers and directly invest in their ideas; unlocking their potential to be drivers of social progress and change.
Over the next five years, Unloc will continue to push to ensure young people are front and centre of future government policy.
We will continue to take an active part in giving young people a voice, connecting them with government and politics, with speaking and debating, and with leadership – and through our workshops, programmes, Changemaker grants and Changemaker Studios spaces – we will scale our support available to young people who step up as Changemakers.
Hayden Taylor is the 27-year old Chief Executive of Unloc
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Last Thursday industry professionals from across the country gathered at Verizon’s slick London Hub in at MidCity Place, Holborn, for a Changemaker Moments event on Manufacturing. Hosted by Unloc, our Unloc Changemaker Alliance Members Verizon Business and Juniper Networks, and The Manufacturer – the event welcomed delegates from 25 manufacturing leaders, 25 young people, and members from all three organisations. Together they engaged with panels, explored emerging AI, IoT and robotics, networked, and even enjoyed a speed-mentoring session.
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The Manufacturer’s 2024 research revealed that the biggest challenge facing the industry today is Leadership, People, and Skills, with 24% of manufacturing leaders saying this is the most pressing issue. What the research discovered is that that culture and skills are at the root of this.
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Young, tech-native demographics entering the workforce are bringing to light the need for a cultural shift in the industry. And, as an aging industry during, tech is desperately in need of attracting young people with these digital skills and innovative ideas.
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The question posed to delegates was ‘How do we do this? How do we rebrand the industry while attracting the talent that will help us do just that?’
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This opened the way for much debate and sharing of experiences and thoughts on the current state of the industry, as well as where it’s headed in the coming future. Where are organisations seeing themselves headed – and how do they intend to get there?
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During the event the delegates experienced:
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The event was buzzing with energy and enthusiasm as business leaders got to hear directly from young people themselves, hear their ideas, their experiences, and where they see themselves posited within the industry.
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It was also a great opportunity for business leaders to get to know one another, network and see where their organisations and ambitions align in the industry.
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Unloc’s Managing Director Hayden Taylor said:
“Events like our Changemaker Moments Days are exactly why we formed the Unloc Changemaker Alliance in the first place, bringing together business leaders from across industry to meet and connect directly with young people. To have this direct line of access to hear from industry leaders, to gain insight and hear their lived experience is so valuable and inspiring.”
“In return professionals get to engage with young changemakers just starting out on their own career journey, to share in their enthusiasm and vision for the world and the industry as they imagine it – a whole new generation of professionals just waiting to emerge and share their talents. It was a fantastic event and I know everyone I spoke to enjoyed it immensely. A huge thank you to young people that came along to speak today, to The Manufacturer, and to our amazing partners Verizon Business and Juniper Networks for working with us to deliver such an engaging event.”
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More Changemaker Moment events soon, click here and follow us on LinkedIn for all the latest updates!
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Is your organisation interested in joining the Unloc Changemaker Alliance? Click here for more info
If you’re aged between 11 to 25 years old then there are two exciting new initiatives you can get involved with which will help us as an organisation to develop and grow. You’ll get to meet new people, make new friends, share your opinions on a whole host of topics – and best of all you’ll have tons of fun doing it!
For over 10 Years at Unloc we’ve facilitated a wide variety of dynamic and engaging programmes to enhance student voice across the many institutions and organisations we work with across the UK. As we continue to grow and expand our reach, young people more than ever need to be at the centre of those decisions.
We consider ourselves incredibly lucky that we get to work with over 15,000 young people every single year, we’re constantly surprised, impressed and amazed by the inspirational young changemakers we meet, so the question was posed ‘Why do we have to stop there?’
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From this, our Community Engagement & Development Strategy was created, in partnership itself with young people, which focuses on expanding our community outreach and by truly investing in them and their changemaker journey after engaging in one of our programmes.
This year we are delighted to be launching two exciting new programmes that will help shape and direct our direction as an organisation – our Youth Board & Unloc Ambassador programmes.
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The Unloc Youth Board
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Our Youth Board will be put at the organisation’s centre to consult and guide the Unloc team to focus on what matters to young people within our work. As youth board members, young people will make significant contributions to the organisation, co-produce our session content with our facilitators and have the opportunity to meet other young people with a heart and passion for developing and empowering young people as changemakers.
Our board will also be instrumental in supporting us with making our programmes more innovative and ensuring they are truly supporting the needs of young people.
Hayden Taylor, Unloc’s Managing Director, said:
“It’s essential that we put young people at the heart of what we do at Unloc. As we grow our reach to work with thousands more young people every year, our Youth Board will be able to properly steer the direction we follow and the decisions we make. I’m so excited to see what this group of amazing young people mean for our future as an organisation.”
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Unloc Ambassadors
We are also establishing our Unloc Ambassadors Programme. Our new young Ambassadors will get the chance to attend our programmes and sessions to help inspire other young people and share their experiences, plus attend exclusive events with our partners to showcase the impact they have made through their changemaker journey.
Both our Youth Board and Ambassadors will receive training and support throughout to develop their public speaking, communication, networking skills and more.
The 2 programmes will work in harmony by meeting for a joint development day in early 2024, and then meeting with the rest of the Unloc Community (any Young Person who has completed a programme with us before) in August for our first-ever Unloc Changemaker Conference.
Ben Dowling, Co-Founder of Unloc & Director of People & Resources said:
“As we grow the work we do, it’s only natural that the young people who engage in Unloc programmes should become advocates for the programmes that are empowering and engaging them in what matters most to them. Through our Ambassadors programme, we can make sure that genuine role modelling of young changemakers can be built into all the work we do, whilst also providing yet another leadership opportunity for young people across the Unloc Community.”
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Emiley Hinton, Unloc’s Community & Alumni Engagement Officer said:
“The community strategy is an amazing chance to grow the amount of young people who will get the chance to access experiences to grow their confidence through a variety of opportunities. This is such an exciting strategy and it’s only the beginning, can’t wait to see the impact this strategy and both programmes will have on the young people and Unloc itself!”
These opportunties not only help Unloc as an organisation continue to grow and best meet the needs of young people, they also provide unique opportunities for young people to develop themselves, network and meet like minded other people, and to grow their skills and empowerment to voice their opinions and take action on issues which are important to them. Don’t just take our word for it though, take it from someone who knows!
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Katie Reid
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Katie Reid took part in the Inspiring Change programme last year, and her group ‘See the difference’ created an awareness campaign about bullying and how to get help and support. This was inspired by their own personal experiences, and was a topic that they cared deeply about and wanted to take action on. Through the programme Katie and her team mate Sasha were invited to the House of Commons to speak about their impressive project at the PAC Parliamentary Event, Katie’s said:
“When I look back at who I was just over a year ago I can’t believe i’m the same person. I first got involved with Unloc through the Inspiring Change project in Summer 2022. The Unloc programme absolutely changed my life, it opened so many doors for me inside my own head, showing me that I have a voice, what I can be capable of, that I can speak up, I can speak passionately, I can come up with ideas of my own and actually create change around me in the world.“
“I feel a lot more confident in my future since completing the programme, and I think I’m more likely to be successful now too because I actually know what I am capable of. I’m not just abandoned by Unloc, I keep getting to do more and more with my future!“
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Click here to find out more about our Unloc Ambassadors programme
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Click here to find out more about the Unloc Youth Board!
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Inspiring Change was our hugely successful programme we held last Summer in partnership with the Peer Action Collective, Youth Options, Artswork and the Youth Endowment Fund.
Our young changemakers took part in a wide range of fun activities from problem solving challenges to confidence building games. Their main aim was to decide what mattered to them and develop social action projects aimed at tackling the issue of youth violence.
There was also the chance for young people to apply for funding of between £1000 and £3000 to support the project they designed and planned.
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This free programme was an 8 month experience for 15-19 year olds living in Portsmouth, Southampton, Eastleigh and Totton. Groups developed plans around knife crime, bullying, and youth violence (to name but a few) with one member going on to win an award at the PAC Awards in the Autumn, and a group winning the Campaign of the Month Award last month from Billboard Media!
Katie Reid took part in the Inspiring Change programme and her group ‘See the difference’ created an awareness campaign about bullying and how to get help and support. Katie and her team mate Sasha were later invited to the House of Commons to speak about their impressive project at the PAC Parliamentary Event, Katie’s been kind enough to share her thoughts with us:
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“When I look back at who I was just over a year ago I can’t believe i’m the same person. I first got involved with Unloc through the Inspiring Change project in Summer 2022. I was really nervous about doing it initially, I had a pretty rough time at school due to bullying, and I was very shy and often didn’t speak up or share my opinions.
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The Inspiring Change programme absolutely changed my life, it opened so many doors for me inside my own head, showing me that I have a voice, what I can be capable of, that I can speak up, I can speak passionately, I can come up with ideas of my own and actually create change around me in the world.
I feel a lot more confident in my future since completing the programme, and I think I’m more likely to be successful now too because I actually know what I am capable of. In March this year I attended the PAC parliamentary event which was held in the House of Commons. I attended with one of the amazing Unloc Facilitators and my Inspiring Change project partner Sasha. We were so excited and a little nervous – as it was our first-time taking part in an event like this, and neither of us had been to the House of Commons before.
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Knowing we were going to speak in such a prestigious place was so daunting, I can’t lie, but if there’s one i’ve learnt during my time with Unloc it’s that just because something is scary it doesn’t mean you can’t do it! You have to believe in yourself and your capabilities.
If you’d told me a year ago that i’d speak in the House of Commons I would have laughed in your face!
When we first arrived at Parliament we were surprised at how big and busy it was. There were a range of guests invited including, MPs, reporters, and business representatives. Once we were allowed into the meeting room Sasha and I talked to the invited guests and discussed our Unloc project.
We explained that we are passionate about helping teachers to notice the subtle signs of bullying so that they can ensure young people have the support they so desperately need. The guests all seemed to be truly interested and intrigued about what we had to say.
After a bit it was time for the speeches. I had prepared what I was going to say before I went, but that actually went out the window a little, as I found that when I was stood in front of everyone it was actually better to speak from the heart.
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I spoke about the research and findings that we had gained from our project, my personal feelings and experiences of bullying, what we have achieved so far, and what we hope to achieve in the future. Once I got into the flow the words just came out, I guess because it’s something I know first hand so well, the words came from the heart.
To have all these important people hearing my story and acknowledging what I, and millions of others have gone through due to bullying was so empowering, and finally I was able to give something back and do something to help other young people like me.
I feel so proud that I was asked to take part in this event, and although I was still nervous – the feelings of achievement afterwards were worth all the nerves. I never would have ever believed i’d do something like this.
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From taking part, I feel that my confidence and self-belief have increased. I was able to stand up in front of a room of strangers and talk about my lived experience and how I hope to help others avoid going through a similar bullying situation.
People under-estimate the damage that bullying does, and the long-term damage it has on people’s mental health and confidence, more needs to be done to combat bullying and i’m proud to be a small part of that.
My communications and networking skills have been developed hugely from this experience and as a result of sharing our passion and ideas. This is definitely a life event that I will always remember as one of the first stepping stones to my future.“
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Katie Reid
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Find out more about our Inspiring Change programme by clicking here!
Are you being bullied or feeling depressed or anxious?
Always talk to a trusted adult for advice if you’re being bullied or harassed. A parent, guardian, teacher, older family member or trusted adult.
Here are some free mental health support services that you can also access for help, advice or for someone to talk to:
Young Minds – support for children and young people
STEM4 – supporting teenagers with their Mental Health
NHS – Mental Health support for children and young people
The Mix – support for the Under 25’s
Beware of lurking Trolls – support and free resources for younger children
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The energy in our Changemaker Studios: Portsmouth space was electric recently as students from schools across Portsmouth gathered together for our second Council of Portsmouth Students Summit 2021/2022.
This in-person event is a great chance for the participating students to mix and get to know their peers from other schools in the area, as well as developing their skills and working within their Action Groups to bring about change in their school and community.
This year the Summit included representatives from 11 institutions including Admiral Lord Nelson School, Castle View Academy, Charter Academy, Mayville High School, Miltoncross Academy, Park Community School, Portsmouth Grammar School, Priory School, St John’s College, Trafalgar School, and The Portsmouth Academy.
The day included icebreakers, energisers and activities led by the students themselves, with the rest of the day tailored to the students’ thoughts, opinions, input and feedback.
Our Unloc Programme Facilitator Jessi, and the facilitator of this year’s CoPS, delivered a ‘masterclass’ on Confidence and Public Speaking. We considered what ‘confidence’ means to us, why confidence is necessary, and introduced the ‘Three-Legged Stool of Self-Confidence’, discussing how each leg representing Skillful, Responsible and Appreciation needs to be balanced.
We focused a little more on the Appreciation topic, and why, as British people, we tend to find it hard to accept appreciation and to say ‘thank you’. Whether we’re embarassed, don’t believe the compliment, or don’t know how to respond, Jessi encouraged everyone to share compliments with the members of their group, and asked the received to show their gratitude with a “thanks!”.
We dived into Public Speaking, considering the different styles, famous public speakers, and the positives (and negatives) of their style of communicating. Jessi challenged everyone to give public speaking a go in the form of ‘Just A Minute’ – speaking continuously for one minute without hesitation, deviation, or repetition on a subject of their choice!
Our first Guest Speaker of the day was Fungayi Zinyemba, the Manager of the Mental Health Support Team in Portsmouth, who discussed how MHST are working with their schools to provide help and support with the mental health and wellbeing of themselves and their peers.
It was great to see the students asking questions and starting conversations about mental health, whether that be their own, their friends, or general concern for how mental health is treated in schools and their communities.
Fellow Unloc Facilitator Larissa led an Activity on Debating, where the fundamentals of debate were covered before the students participated in a ‘moving debate’, using the space to show their opinion on hot topics. The students got stuck in, sharing their thoughts on the matter, with many of them utilising the public speaking skills we had covered earlier in the day, confidently sharing with everyone in the room.
Our second Guest Speaker of the day was Lauren, a former CoPS Student from Portsmouth High School who was involved in the forum last academic year. Lauren was invited to speak to this year’s cohort about her personal experience whilst in CoPS and the actions and changes her group were able to bring about in her school and community.
After Lauren’s inspiring talk, we split off into our Action Groups! These represented key themes or current issues, these were:
The students were given time to share their priorities going forward, led by the Action Group Leaders. Each group then presented to everyone else.
It’s amazing to know the actions these young people have already been able to implement, as well as their plans for the near-future to continue to bring about change in their school and community!
It was a truly inspiring event, and wonderful to see so many young changemakers from across Portsmouth gathered together and sharing their ideas in our new Changemaker Studios: Portsmouth space!
We can’t wait to see our CoPS members at the next Summit!
This November Student Governors from around the country will be coming together to develop their skills and learn best practice at the Festival of Student Governance at Birminghams International Convention Centre!
Unloc in partnership with the Association of Colleges and supported by The Blagrave Trust, have organised this unique opportunity to raise the profile of student governors and train them up for their roles at the United Kingdom’s largest further education event.
The Festival of Student Governance brings together young people from across the UK for governance training that ensures they are knowledgeable, supported, and prepared for the responsibility being given to them in their role.
They’ll develop their leadership abilities and attend workshops that will focus on key skills and practical knowledge for governance. Importantly they will also have the opportunity to meet and network with clerks, principals and other student governors from around the country.
Delegates will become equipped with practical skills and knowledge, hear inspirational guest speakers, and develop abilities that will empower them to deliver positive influence and change at their college.
Our dynamic one day conference includes overnight accommodation, interactive workshops, bespoke training, inspiring guest speakers and a networking dinner.
Delegates will check into the Ibis Birmingham New Street Hotel from 5pm on Monday 15th November. At 7pm that evening there will be a networking dinner event where all attendees can meet, get to know each other, enjoy a meal and hear from our inspirational guest speakers.
The next morning on Tuesday 16th November delegates will enjoy breakfast, then head to the Birmingham International Convention Centre for a 9am – 4pm conference event, filled with engaging workshops, training, lunch, guest speakers and immersive activities.
Thanks to a heavily subsidised ticket we are pleased to offer delegate passes at £75 each. This includes the conference, all food, entertainment, and overnight accommodation.
The only thing not included is travel to and from the conference!
Delegate passes are offered on a first come first served basis. There are a limited number of places available – so if you or your student governors are interested in attending the conference, be sure to reserve a place sooner rather than later.
Young Person interested in attending the event?
Speak to your college Principal or Clerk to find out if you’re able to join in and attend, we’d love to see you there!
Education professional looking to book a place/places for your students?
Simply click here to use our simple online booking form.