The social leadership programme, which at first will involve 20 young people from four secondary schools, is being run in partnership with the charity Young Pioneers.
It will give the young people the chance to gain social leadership skills and an accredited qualification. Starting this month (March 2010) they will undergo a training course run by Young Pioneers and then will be supported as they tackle a school, local or global problem and identify how they can make a difference.
A pilot programme, the initial training is being funded by the extended schools team at the County Council and the pupils to benefit come from Seaford Head Community College, Hailsham Community College, Eastbourne Technology College, and Willingdon School. It is hoped, though, that other sources of funding and sponsorship may enable the programme to be rolled out more broadly in the future.
Cllr David Elkin, the County Council's Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness said: “I think this has the potential to be a great project which will help give these young people the skills and support they need to take hold of an issue and have an impact on it.
“The key here is giving the young people confidence. The training is all about giving them a belief in themselves and helping them to realise they can make a difference, they can effect change.”
The social leadership programme is one of a number of projects being run by the extended schools team working with schools to extend learning and opportunities for young people outside of the classroom.
Under the course the young people, aged 12–16, will get the chance to learn skills of leadership and how to lead. This will include defining a task, planning, briefing a team, organising, controlling and evaluating. After six months of the course they will present a portfolio demonstrating how they have identified an issue and have been a leader of change for the benefit of others.
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