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Bexhill Academy students 'Be the Change' with Hastings Direct for a second year

Written by: Be the Change
Published on: 16 Nov 2016
Category:

    Hastings Direct (‘Hastings’) in partnership with LoveLocalJobs.com and social enterprise, humanutopia, launched the second Be the Change programme with Bexhill Academy last week.

    120 year nine students (13/14 years old) from the local secondary school came together at the Hastings Centre to join representatives from Hastings Direct and the partnering companies, to be part of thought provoking and at times emotional, discussions on overcoming behavioural obstacles to positively shape and mould the students’ future. Be the Change also aims to raise the aspirations of 13/14 years olds and looks to help them remove barriers that may make them disengaged at school and in life.

    Bringing their own experiences to the day by providing support and offering personal anecdotes to the students, 34 business volunteers from Hastings Direct began their journey as Be the Change mentors. Over the coming months, the business volunteers will meet the students to encourage further understanding on developing life skills to take forward into work life and will give anecdotal advice and guidance on the skills and attributes that may be desirable in the working world.

    Hastings Direct is the only corporate organisation sponsoring a full bespoke Be the Change programme in the UK.

    Jay Wootten, Events and Community Relations Manager, Hastings Direct said; “It was a delight to see so many year 9 students become immediately engaged with the 2016/17 Be the Change programme. I was humbled to see so many teenagers stand in front of their peers and step out of their comfort zone to examine the choices they are making and the choices they have. We are thrilled to be continuing the Be the Change programme in our local community with Bexhill Academy”

    Speaking directly to the students throughout the launch day, Graham Moore, Co-Founder, humanutopia reflected; “Launching Be the Change to the students of Bexhill Academy has been an absolutely awesome experience. Their engagement in the programme produced immediate results in students’ confidence and self-awareness. They are a credit to their school and community. It was a pleasure to also work with the business volunteers from Hastings Direct who further enriched the experience of the students with their commitment and professionalism. ”

    Rosanna Farrar, Head of Events and Be the Change, LoveLocalJobs.com said; “Seeing the impact of Be the Change on 120 year 9 students was incredible. Looking around the room towards the end of the day, there was not one student who wasn't engaged, contemplating their future and seriously considering the fact that they themselves have the power to make positive changes in order to be successful and happy in life. We are over the moon to be working with Humanutopia and Hastings Direct to deliver such a powerful initiative.”

     


    For more information on Be the Change – visit http://about.lovelocaljobs.com/portfolio-item/be-the-change/

    Hastings Direct Press Officer: Natalie Sadlier |  01424 738225 | natalie.sadlier@hastingsdirect.com   

    About Hastings Direct: Hastings Direct is a fast growing, agile, digitally focused general insurance provider to the UK market, with 2.2 million customers and employing over 2,700 colleagues at sites in Bexhill, Leicester and Newmarket.

    We have built our business by championing the customer by providing refreshingly straightforward service and products and offer car, motorcycle, van and home insurance directly to the public.

    Hastings Direct is a trading name of Hastings Insurance Services Limited, the UK trading subsidiary of Hastings Group Holdings plc, which also trades via “People’s Choice” and “insurePink”.

    About LoveLocalJobs.com: LoveLocalJobs.com has an award winning family of regional job boards in Sussex and Surrey. It works proactively to link businesses, universities, colleges and schools, public sector, charities and community groups and other organisations to promote and create local employment opportunities in the South East, whilst also providing much needed careers, information, advice and guidance to local businesses and job-seekers alike.

    About humanutopia: humanutopia is a social business that creates and runs inspirational courses in schools for students and staff.  Their courses are based on personal, social and workplace skills development, and improve the hope, confidence, happiness, relationships, and employability of participating students. Over the last 13 years humanutopia have worked with over 250,000 young people, 200 schools, 25,000 adults and 20,000 heroes.