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Hastings School Students Celebrate Success at Awards Ceremony

Written by: Be the Change
Published on: 20 Jul 2016

School students for Hastings BTC

The achievements of 70 students from Hastings and Rother schools were commended at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, July 13 at the University of Brighton’s Hastings campus.

The event was the grand finale to the Be the Change programme, an initiative to boost the aspirations and job prospects of young people aged between 13 and 14. Over the last four months the students have been taking part in a series of activities designed to improve hope, happiness, confidence, relationships, to change negative behaviour and to introduce them to job and career opportunities.

The students were congratulated and awarded certificates by their business mentors who had been working with them throughout the programme, on both an individual and group basis, supported by Carlo Missirian and Graham Moore, founders of humanutopia.

Carlo said: “It has been an incredible journey not just for these brave young people, but for everyone who has been involved – the teachers, the business volunteers and ourselves.  Over the last few months we have been inspired by the way in which the students have engaged with us and their peers and as a result have become happier, more confident of their abilities and excited about their futures. We have thoroughly enjoyed working in partnership with LoveLocalJobs to create the powerful Be The Change' programme.”

The students come from six secondary schools in the area: ARK Helenswood Academy, ARK William Parker Academy, Robertsbridge Community College, Rye College, St Richard’s Catholic College and The St Leonards Academy. 

Gary Peters, MD of LoveLocalJobs.com and co-founder of Be the Change said: “It’s a harsh world out there for young people and many of the students on ‘Be the Change’ have already had to face challenges that most of us couldn’t imagine.  Our aim is to help them to value both themselves and other people and to develop skills which will enable them to take responsibility for their lives and ambitions.”

A student from St Leonards Academy who took part in the programme said:  “I just really want to say thank you because now I can safely say ‘I can do it!’.  I’ve valued this experience more than anyone understands.  This has been a massive turning point in my life, so thank you.”

Be the Change Hastings is a collaboration between LoveLocalJobs.com and social enterprise humanutopia with support from Hastings Borough Council, Sussex Learning Network, University of Brighton, Heart FM and local businesses. In addition, volunteers from 12 local businesses have provided mentoring and opportunities for work place visits to the young people.

Sarah Williams, Director of Sussex Learning Network, said: “Be the Change is a really innovative way to inspire and support vulnerable young people to be the best they can be and I have no doubt that for most of the students, this experience has been life changing.  Sussex Learning Network is delighted to have sponsored ‘Be the Change’ and we hope to be able to continue to support the programme for years to come.” 

 


 

Picture caption:  Carlo Missirian (left) with students from schools in Hastings and Rother at the ‘Be the Change’ programme’s award ceremony

Further information from Julie Causton at Cobb PR on 01323 416999 julie@cobbpr.com

and Rose Farrar at LoveLocalJobs.com on 07977 079496 rosanna@lovelocaljobs.com                                                                                                                                            

About LoveLocalJobs.com

LoveLocalJobs.com is a family of jobs boards that works in partnership with businesses, local authorities, universities, colleges, schools, charities and community groups in cities, towns and districts across Sussex and the south east.  It comprises six regional jobs boards: BrightonandHoveJobs.com, 1066Jobs.com, GatwickDiamondJobs.com, CoastalWestSussexJobs.com, LoveEastbourneJobs.com and LoveCroydonJobs.com. As well as these jobs boards we have a further four careers advice and guidance sites, which have been designed by young people for young people with the help and support of local business mentors. 

About humanutopia

humanutopia is a social enterprise 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 11 years humanutopia has worked with over 200,000 young people, 200 schools, 25,000 adults and 20,000 heroes.

www.humanutopia.com

@humanutopia

https://www.facebook.com/humanutopia