By Mrs Bezzer (English Teacher)
What a difference a month makes! A few short weeks ago, a group of brave - though probably fairly nervous - Lower Sixth students attended their first Ready2Lead session at Bedford School where they were set their Ready2Lead leadership task: to plan and implement a project to benefit the local community, using the Bedford Borough Council’s plan for Children and Young People as their starting point.
The students have approached this challenge with enthusiasm and creativity, their burgeoning leadership skills clearly on display as they are learning to speak up and share their ideas, work together for a common goal and manage their academic and co-curricular commitments effectively.
But what are the students actually working on?
Group One
Mission: to help create safer routes through Bedford town centre for girls and young women walking in the town when it is dark - something that is of increasing importance now the clocks have ticked back and it’s getting darker earlier by the day! They hope to work with girls and young women directly, for example through lesson opportunities at BGS as well as surveys, to gain a sense of the main walking routes that might need support; they also aim to team up with local businesses such as restaurants and cafes to help provide safe spaces for young people to access should they feel vulnerable or threatened at all.
Group Two
Mission: inspired by the success of London’s ‘pocket gardens’, this group is aiming to create and develop more green spaces in Bedford, improving existing areas through actions such as upcycling and litter removal. They hope to liaise with local MP Mr Yassin, building on his recent visit to BGS where members of the group challenged him about environmental issues, as well as utilising social media to encourage young people to reduce litter and raise awareness of their campaign.
So, what a difference a month makes! The next - and final - Ready2Lead session takes place in less than a month, on Tuesday 9th December; the students will present their work to local dignitaries as well as other students and staff from participating schools and have a chance to put their newly gained leadership skills to the test. We wish them all the best!
