Recent social movements such as Black Lives Matter and climate campaign activism have shown the powerful positive impact on the world when young people find their voice and a sense of purpose. However, many young people in the UK (and around the world) are disempowered by the systems and structures that are intended to support them. Young people’s mental wellbeing is a serious and growing concern in UK schools with one in six children aged 5-16 years now identified as having a probable mental disorder. Too many young people are disengaged from education, both in terms of dropping out, and also from being in school but with no enthusiasm or motivation to learn. And UK education is too focused on passing exams leaving young people with inadequate support to gain the knowledge, character, and skills to thrive in a rapidly changing and unpredictable twenty first century, leading to troubling outcomes for the individual, and society as a whole.
This webinar will explore the importance of building trusting relationships with young people to empower them to find their voice and to make choices about their own lives - including real world examples from the youth sector. It will also cover the role that education can play in supporting young people to learn that their opinions matter, how to express themselves, and how to positively impact the world around them – with real examples from The New School. It will also look at how youth empowerment creates positive benefits for young people such as improved self-esteem, mental health and confidence – skills needed to tackle social change. Finally, it will look at evidence of how investing in and empowering young people can create positive benefits for society as a whole.
Our panelists are:
Sughra Ahmed, Director of Education UK, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Lucy Stephens, Founder and Co-Headteacher, The New School
Kayleigh Wainwright, Director of Engagement, UK Youth
Jo Wells, Director, Blagrave Trust