What is Trust Youth?
Trust Youth is an exciting Charity now in its third year. It provides opportunity for practical citizenship by helping pupils to set up their own 'mini-charities' in schools. These mini-charities raise awareness of, and fundraise for, a national charity - all within the school community. The structure is similar to a normal charity, giving pupils experience of the positions of:
- Chief Executive
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Event Fundraiser
- Education Officer
- Press & Publicity Officer
- Committee Members
- Trustees
Teams are given a choice of which charity to support from our partner charities. They are guided by a school teacher, and are supported by a mentor from their chosen charity who visits the school to offer guidance and training.
NB: in Belfast and the West Midlands instead of a mentor we hold a local training event run by British Red Cross youth workers on key skills needed to run a mini-charity.
What areas do you work in?
We are currently working in London, Belfast and the West Midlands.
What age group is it for?
Year 10, but the programme can be used with Years 9 or 12.
What charities are you partnered with?
Trust Youth teams get a choice between a number of charities we partner, including:
- British Red Cross
- Age Concern London
- RSPCA
NB: in Belfast and the West Midlands schools work with the British Red Cross.
Why do Trust Youth?
It is an excellent out-of-school-hours-learning opportunity offering new width and creativity to your school's varied menu of activities. It can also be used as the practical component for the GCSE citizenship coursework and fits well with KS4 citizenship objectives.
It builds on young people's enthusiasm for fund-raising, develops key skills and offers opportunity for a wide range of pupils to demonstrate success. It fits different niches in the school - some teams have included gifted and talented pupils, or those at risk of exclusion etc.
What sort of projects can Trust Youth teams do?
It's up to the team themselves (within reason of course!) under the facilitating teacher's supervision. Here are just some of the past examples from last year's teams, who raised a combined total of £2,500.
Raising awareness
Assembly talks by the pupils... Poetry reading sessions... Library displays... Raps... Magazine articles... School website... Quizzes.
Fundraising projects
Healthy tuck shop... Teachers v. Pupils cricket match... Summer Fair... Football competition... Car washes... Quiz night... Cake sale, and not least... Gunging teachers!
What are the benefits for pupils and the school?
Trust Youth meets many school and citizenship objectives. Last year's pupils and schools said it...
| A lot | A little | |
|---|---|---|
| ...developed pupil key skills | 75% | 25% |
| ...improved pupil confidence | 50% | 50% |
| ...proved enjoyable | 100% | |
| ...increased ability to express and justify opinions | 50% | 50% |
| ...increased involvement in school and community activities | 75% | 25% |
| ...increased understanding of international charities | 75% | 25% |
| ...increased understanding of global issues | 25% | 75% |
| ...increased likelihood of pupils volunteering | 75% | 25% |
| ...improved understanding of charity leadership | 75% | 25% |
What are the wider benefits?
- Better time management
- Personal organisation
- Team working
- Public speaking
- Communication and trust
- Making new friends
- Individual success
- Community awareness
- Citizenship in action
What do teachers enjoy about Trust Youth?
- Seeing the development of new skills
- Attending the Celebration with other schools
- The enthusiasm and relationships that developed
- Watching pupils take on more responsibility
What is the commitment for the facilitating teacher?
- Pupils are in charge - so the role is supervision and advice-giving rather than active intervention, and there is a good deal of flexibility.
- It takes 1-2 hours per week. For the first few weeks the commitment may be more, but as the teams grow in confidence the facilitator may find he/she can do class marking, lesson planning etc. as well.
What support will the facilitator get from Trust Youth?
- Guidance material on how to set up a group and how to support your pupils
- Fully tested guidance and support materials for pupils
- The support of a mentor from the charity the team has chosen. He/she will visit the school at least three times to provide training and guidance, as well as lend their experience - and take the pressure off the teacher. Or, for schools in Belfast and West Midlands, a local training event.
- Advice and support at the end of a phone, by email or by Trust Youth visits to the school
- Opportunity for pupils and the school to win national and Trust Youth awards
- Invitation to a regional Celebration event where pupils present and share their experiences
What's the time scale?
- You need to let us know as soon as possible if your school wants to take part. Places are limited to ensure high quality.
- We will then send you a partnership agreement for the senior management to sign - this will clarify our obligations to you as well as setting out what it will entail for your school.
- Your Trust Youth team will need to be set up at a date convenient for you, usually before early Spring.
- Your team will be given a choice of which charity to choose from a panel of charities, and we will then match the team up with a mentor who will visit the school three times during the project. Or, for schools in Belfast and the West Midlands, you will be working with the British Red Cross who will put on a local training event for your team.
- The team will then meet, roughly once a week, from your start date until the time of completion of your project in 2008 - the end date is flexible to suit your needs, but we suggest 3-3½ months although some have run projects for 6 weeks.
- Your Team will be invited to the prestigious Celebration and awards event at the end of the projects.
I want our school to be involved! What's the next step?
Please use our Contact page to get in touch as soon as possible to enquire about participation. We are limited to the number of schools we can take in each region.
If you have any other questions do get in touch.