Inspire, Debate, Change trains and supports university student to deliver a series of civil education workshops to primary school pupils, developing their critical thinking skills and ultimately empowering the next generation of active citizens. This programme currently runs in Bristol and Southampton.
What is Inspire, Debate, Change?
If young people are introduced to civic engagement they will develop critical thinking skills and become more engaged citizens.
The interactive workshops include building confidence debating, introducing the UK political system and exploring ways to make change. We work with schools with a high proportion of pupils on pupil premium and with English as a second language to identify pupils who will benefit most from the intervention.
The students we work with are trained and supported to deliver engaging, apolitical workshops.
What’s the impact?
Inspire, Debate, Change aims to empower the next generation of active citizens through interactive civil education workshops. To meet this aim we ensure every young person who takes part in the programme:
- Develops critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Feels more informed about social issues and how to make change
- Are motivated to make change
- Have more information about the UK political system
To achieve this our students are trained to create an environment which is safe, supported, respectful, interesting and challenging. An environment which supports key social and emotional skill development.
In 2021-22
100%
partners agreed young people showed increased confidence to debate their beliefs with their peers
100%
partners agreed young people are empowered to make change themselves
100%
students agreed young people show increased knowledge of the UK political system
[Inspire, Debate Change] helped me gain confidence in myself as a leader and proved that I could still maintain a personal relationship with the young people while in a leadership role. The confidence I gained from my role with IDC has translated to a greater self-assurance in my everyday life. It has also encouraged me to do attempt more new things without the fear of failure.
Chante O’Shaughnessy, Southampton Hub volunteer