by Lucy Supperstone
Director of Innovation and Standards
Launching our 2022-23 impact report has given us a perfect opportunity to take a look at our work and the ways that our programmes change the lives of the young people we work with.
Working with our network of partners and centres always gives you a good indication of the difference our programmes make but seeing the results of our impact surveys alongside the individual stories really helped bring that impact to life.
Hearing from the likes of Billy in Watford or Cora on the Wirral makes it clear that these are actual young people building real leadership skills. These essential skills are helping them to make a difference in their communities and engage their peers. It is energising and inspiring in equal measure – but there is still so much more that we want to do in the future.
The programmes we develop and support provide young people with the building blocks they need. Giving them their own leadership opportunities to support the discovery of their own path and their place in the world.
We know that young people today are energised and passionate about the world around them and how they can influence this. For instance, recent research from Natural England shows that over 80% of young people (aged 8-15) are eager to take action to help the environment. And we know that Generation Alpha are already growing up to be a generation of protestors with one in five aged between five and nine having already attended their first march or protest about something they care about.
At the same time, today’s students face huge challenges around an uncertain future and their roles in wider society. Being confident and resilient to address those challenges is more important than ever.
To help young people feel prepared and ready to face their challenges, essential leadership skills play a vital role in empowering them to stand up for what they believe in and to take the lead in a wide range of community activities.
Those skills will be more important than ever in a future where it is almost impossible to forecast what will needed for in-demand careers: according to a recent study by the World Economic Forum, 65% of children in primary schools today will go into the workforce to take on jobs that don’t exist now. That’s why we believe in helping young people prepare for the future with a curriculum for life and an understanding of the world around them.
Our programmes are often the beginning of a learners’ volunteering journey. From this they can use their skills to enhance their own experiences and create impact in their communities.
Our transition to being the Leadership Skills Foundation provides us with new opportunities to introduce our programmes – such as our STEM Leaders programme partnered with SSERC and our Environment Leaders programme, developed in partnership with WWF and RSPB.
Developing leadership skills through a wider range of subject areas and individual passions can equip many young people with the confidence they need to be the best version of themselves. The impact report has demonstrated our actions are giving our learners the confidence to believe, the qualities to lead and the skills to succeed.
Read our 2022-23 Impact Report to learn more about the inspirational stories of our learners and the impact of our programmes. Click here to read and download the report >>