You can leave comments on the blog and on Facebook, and chat with us on Twitter.

Students will be able to take on the roles of representatives of different UN countries with the aim of resolving global issues using the structures of the UN. The entire event will be run by students and will provide an interesting and fun way to explore important global issues, as well as an opportunity to develop conflict resolution skills.

Full teaching resources and training will be provided to participating schools, including a short unit of work about the UN that can be delivered to all students in Citizenship lessons.

If you would like your school to participate in this project please contact Ruxandra Ratiu, the International Project Officer at Citizenship Foundation.

The programme supports schools, teachers and young people through a variety of resources, tools and projects. The Giving Nation Challenge is an active learning project (currently adopted by 450 English secondary schools) for social enterprise and is supported by the Cabinet Office - Office of the Third Sector. The Challenge also offers schools and local businesses a chance to work together in the classroom through a fully-supported corporate volunteering scheme.

The Corporate Partnerships Manager is responsible for recruiting businesses, training volunteers and providing brokerage support to both businesses and Challenge schools. This is a busy, exciting and creative role that will create great opportunities to demonstrate effectiveness, operate independently and to work on a project that will provide win-win situations for schools and their corporate partners.

We are looking for someone who has experience in delivering corporate volunteering programmes. The successful candidate will have an understanding of CSR and an interest in creating and supporting opportunities for corporate staff to work alongside young people in the classroom.

Deadline for applications: 13 November 2009 

More about the post of Corporate Partnerships Manager, Giving Nation. 

The event is free to attend and will take place on 10 December at the Commonwealth Foundation in London from 3pm to 5.15pm. There will be 60 students in attendance on the day as well as other guests. Dr Vince Cable MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats; Paul Hilder, Director of the Avaaz Campaign; Ransford Smith, Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Gillian Temple, Head of Oxfam's Public Engagement Team make up the panel, which will be chaired by the Chair of Trustees of the Citizenship Foundation, Michael Maclay.

*Margaret Quass was previously the director of the Council for Education in World Citizenship (CEWC), which merged with the Citizenship Foundation in September 2008. CEWC has had a momentous history in informing young people about the purpose and nature of the UN. The UK government funded CEWC and education ministers from all political parties were also supportive. CEWC and its members have helped the birth of many important organisations including Oxfam, Freedom from Hunger, Voluntary Service Overseas, Community Service Volunteers and the Association for Citizenship Teaching. CEWC was present at the first United Nations General Assembly in London. One of the major achievements of the United Nations was the creation of an international framework of law on Human Rights. Also in 1945 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was formed, and again CEWC facilitated the birth.

Through this process the project seeks to break down barriers to integration for young asylum seekers and refugees, thus building greater community cohesion.

Over the coming months, we will be looking to identify partner organisations in London, Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff who work with young refugees or with young people from the local community. We will then work with these organisations to deliver a series of workshops to the young people and support them to design and implement their own social action projects in their local communities, in the summer of 2010.

The young people will receive accreditation for taking part in the project, and their achievements will be celebrated at an award ceremony in October 2010. The project will then be rolled out in further communities across the UK from the end of 2010.

For further information about the project please contact Xenia on Xenia.Davis@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk or on 020 7566 4153

Each team of students will use carefully constructed witness statements to prepare the prosecution and defence of a specially written criminal case. They take on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, magistrates and court staff and compete against each other in a live format with one team prosecuting and the other defending. Real magistrates and other legal professionals judge their performances which take place in real magistrates' courts.

There is no need for students or teachers to have studied law before taking part in the competition. Schools will receive a guide to help them prepare the case and will have access to online lesson plans.

A participating teacher in the 2008/09 competition said: 'This competition is unique in its ability to inspire the students and stretch their abilities and imaginations.'

The resource contains five themes based around a key question, such as: What happens when religious beliefs conflict with other social norms? How does religious identity impact on life in the UK today? What place is there for religion in public life? This enables student discussion around important topical issues, relating to the place of religion in contemporary society, which are rarely encountered in other educational resources. For example, the age of religious consent, religion and the law, religion and national identity, the morality of proselytism, the religious rights of atheists and agnostics, and the role of religion in the delivery of public services.

Citizenship through RE is part of series of teachers' books which deal with the teaching of Citizenship within the context of other school subjects and activities. Each one is accompanied by an easily editable CD-ROM and is available from Folens, Waterslade House, Thame Road, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8NT. For more details, contact: folens@folens.com

• The Diana Award, is for exceptional individuals aged 12-18 who make a sustained, selfless contribution to their communities.

• The Diana Certificate of Excellence is for groups aged 12-18 who work together to make communities a better place.

• The Diana Anti-Bullying Award for individuals and groups aged 5-18 who have tackled bullying in their communities and schools.

Nominate by 13th November at www.diana-award.org.uk or call 0845 3372987 for further information.

England captain John Terry comments: 'I've always liked to lead by example. I take great pride and responsibility in being a leader. To organise and help others is one of my strengths. It's also great that young people see me in that way - I feel very privileged to be mentioned with some of the world's great leaders.'

Helping to launch The Youth of Today campaign, John Terry adds: 'It can be tough for young people at the moment. Projects like this that develop self-esteem and leadership ability are really important.'

Ghurka champion Joanna Lumley and business guru Sir Alan Sugar also made the teens' top 10, while Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela came in the top three with Martin Luther King. 

Joanna Lumley comments: 'I'd never thought of myself as a leader but I am thrilled and touched that young people think of me that way. It goes to show that if you're passionate enough about something you can shine a light on the subject and make things happen.'

The Youth of Today campaign will encourage hundreds of young people to become leaders, from sports coaches to public speakers, as well as inspiring many more across the country, and creating opportunities including shadowing Government Ministers.

According to the survey, 70 per cent of teenagers claim they are more likely to be inspired by someone they know than by a celebrity, challenging popular perceptions of British youth.

Two in three (67 per cent) believe there are more celebrities setting a bad example than good today. Sixty four per cent are inspired by someone in their family. 

Adam Nichols from The Youth of Today comments: 'People think that youth today only aspire to be like celebrities but they're wrong. This campaign will give young people more inspiration closer to home.'

He adds: 'Shows such as The X Factor prove that Britain really does have young talent - but we cannot rely on The X Factor alone. We need to find new ways to unearth the next generation of potential.'

Seven leading youth organisations have joined forces to launch The Youth of Today campaign, led by The Prince's Trust, including the British Youth Council, Changemakers, Citizenship Foundation, National Youth Agency, Young Foundation and the UK Youth Parliament.

The Youth of Today, funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, aims to increase the quality, quantity and diversity of opportunities for young people as leaders of change in their communities.

Joanna Lumley adds: 'There is more pressure on young people today than ever before. We need to discover and encourage young leaders who will rise up in these difficult times and show that there is no problem too big to be sorted, nothing to be afraid of, and that help is available from the most unexpected people.'

The top leaders were chosen largely because they were inspirational and had helped others, with other popular qualities including fairness and intelligence. Bill Gates also featured in the teens' top leaders.

For more information, visit www.theyouthoftoday.org.

These young people, who represent a range of UK secondary schools and who have organised over 450 events in support of charity in the 2008/09 academic year, will be presented with awards in recognition of their outstanding efforts in fundraising, social enterprise, volunteering and campaigning action. The students' achievements are particularly inspiring having generated £106,000, through their schools, in donations to local, national and international charities.

To enter the Giving Nation Awards, a Citizenship Foundation project, groups of students kept online diaries on the website recording school based social and charitable action undertaken throughout the 2008/09 academic year - these included a range of activties such as sponsored dog walks, school sleepovers and fair trade campaigns.

Awards of up to £1,000 will be given to the schools to further student-led, school-wide participation in charity, community and social action.

The overall winners of the 2009 Giving Nation Awards:

Tibshelf School, Derbyshire - Most Outstanding School

Schools of Excellence - Giving Nation Awards Winners:

1. Torry Academy, Aberdeen
2. Queen Elizabeth School, Kirby Lonsdale, Cumbria
3. Rushcliffe Comprehensive School, Nottingham
4. Loughborough High School, Loughborough
5. Alec Hunter Humanities College, Braintree, Essex
6. Felpham Community College, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

School of Excellence - Social Enterprise - Giving Nation Challenge Winner

7. Chatham Grammar School for Girls, Medway, Kent.

The Tibshelf School in Derbyshire will receive the prestigious ‘Most Outstanding School - Giving Nation Award' for their examples of charity and community activity. As national winners the team will be presented with a once-in-a lifetime opportunity: the chance to spend one week supporting the work of international development charity World Vision in Chennai, India. In early 2010 a student team from the school will travel to India to learn about the charity's work with runaway children in the South Indian city.

Programme Director for Giving Nation, Anna Reid said:

'We know that most schools spend a lot of time and energy each year to raise money, campaign and volunteer for outside causes. Unfortunately many schools struggle to find an effective way of recording, sharing and celebrating these achievements with their community and that is where the Giving Nation Awards supports schools. Each year we also recognise up to eight schools across the UK who are outstanding in their achievements of charitable and social action - we congratulate our 2009 winning schools on their hard work and commitment which will see them become beacons for students and schools across the UK'

Hannah Graham a student from the Giving Nation team at Loughborough High School said:

‘Since working on Giving Nation we have realised how important it is to tell other young people about the varied charity work we do so that we can encourage others to give more and help others. The awards website also allowed us to reflect on the work we have done for charities. We are really happy to have won this award!'

Alan Millar, teacher at Torry Academy said:

‘Entering the Giving Nation Awards gave our students a real focal point for the charity and campaigning activity they carry out in school. It is the students who drive the fundraising and campaigning that goes on at Torry Academy. Winning this award will really help them to strengthen the ethos of giving and social action they are already building at our school.'

Courses will begin in January and will be free to all primary and secondary teachers of citizenship in England with QTS. The course is ideal for citizenship teachers with some experience but little or no formal training in citizenship. A small study support grant is also available to each applicant.

Details of the course and the new delivery structure can be found on a new dedicated website. Further information and an online registration form can be found at this site.

The website supports anyone working with young people, aged 13 to 19 in England, to embed youth leadership into their classroom and the wider school setting. It also offers information about a range of The Youth of Today opportunities from world class fellowships to shadowing a local minister or councillor, and the chance to read, comment on and share inspiring case studies.

Click here to view the website and find out more about how Teachers’ Zone can support you and the many free opportunities avaialble.

This month we are proud to be part of the government's Learning Revolution, a month-long festival of activities that will draw all kinds of people into learning new skills and developing new interests, building their capacity to engage with others in the process. In particular, we will be working with Speakers Bank, Speakers Trust, ARC Theatre and the wider speaking and debating community to enable adults who have never felt able to speak with confidence in public before to have their say through a range of workshops and events.

The confidence to speak in formal or public settings is a key citizenship skill: one that builds self confidence and self-esteem, develops the capacity to drive social change and enhances employability. For this reason we are keen to play our role in the proposed National Campaign for Public Speaking, and are in discussion with others in this field. We shall be supporting the campaign's launch later this month as part of our efforts to produce a real legacy from this month's activities.

Students will be able to take on the roles of representatives of different UN countries with the aim of resolving global issues using the structures of the UN. The entire event will be run by students and will provide an interesting and fun way to explore important global issues, as well as an opportunity to develop conflict resolution skills.

Full teaching resources and training will be provided to participating schools, including a short unit of work about the UN that can be delivered to all students in Citizenship lessons.

If you would like your school to participate in this project please contact Ruxandra Ratiu, the International Project Officer at Citizenship Foundation.

Andrew Phillips has been President of the Citizenship Foundation since his retirement as Chairman in October 2000, a post which he held since setting up the organisation in 1989. The Citizenship Foundation is thrilled that his outstanding contribution to the charity's work, along with the many others that have benefited from his support, has been recognised in this way.

The Citizenship Foundation's Chief Executive Tony Breslin said: "Andrew Phillips' commitment - not just to the Citizenship Foundation - but to tackling the broader issues of engaging people in their communities, and in particular with law and politics, has been and remains unstinting and inspirational. We are proud and greatly honoured to have Andrew as both our Founder and President."

Andrew Phillips founded charity specialist law firm Bates Wells & Braithwaite in 1970 and in 1997 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for establishing the Citizenship Foundation, and for his work with young people and the law. He was prominent in debates during the passage of the Charities Act 2006 and is also well-known for his legal advice on Radio 2's Jimmy Young programme. He has been a working Life Peer (Liberal Democrat) since 1998.

While the Foundation is not advocating for a specific set of reforms, we recognise that a public debate on the nature of our democracy benefits all of us and will be looking to encourage young people in particular to take part.

If you are a teacher who would like a member of POWER2010's team to arrange for a speaker to visit your school to discuss the campaign and how young people can get involved, contact them at office@power2010.org.uk or on 020 7806 6239.

The girls were nominated for the prestigious accolade after organising over 200 fundraising, campaigning and volunteering actions, and leading charity and campaigning activity in their school and community through the school's Citizenship Club. The Citizenship Club, led by the five girls and another team member, Aaron, has 29 young members who are all responsible for organising fun and awareness raising events, presentations and debates with local MPs in school, on a range of issues from fair trade to anti-fur. As Bex, aged 17 explains:

‘At Rushcliffe School Citizenship Club we all work really hard to try and make a difference to the world. Through campaigning and fundraising, we can change lives; we can save lives. We are lucky to have access to education and the support to raise money for charities; we should use that opportunity to help others.'

It was the students' particular commitment to campaigning and putting their concerns about local and global issues to politicians (including a TV debate with MP Kenneth Clarke on whether Britain should apologise for the Slave Trade) that impressed judges of the Giving Nation Awards.

Selected from 96 UK secondary schools, as national winners of the Giving Nation Awards, the team won the opportunity to spend one week learning first hand about the work of environmental charity the Rainforest Foundation UK in Cameroon. In April 2009, the six lead students travelled to the West African forest to learn about the charity's work to preserve the Rainforest, its wildlife and habitat and to protect the rights of the Baka, a people who have lived sustainably in the forest for thousands of years.

Since their return from the forest, the Citizenship Club have organised over 30 awareness raising and fundraising events including running workshops on deforestation and rainforest protection in their school and local primary schools, a poster campaign and an open garden event aimed at raising the profile of the cause and their own school-based campaign to protect the world's forests.

‘When we returned from our trip I wanted to let people know about the changes they can make, like not buying furniture made from rainforest hard wood, to prevent deforestation. I want every one to know the impact their lives and needs are having on a forest and way of life thousands of miles away.' Felicity aged 17, explained.

In October the girls will meet women from all walks of life ranging from the arts, science, sport, journalism, activism and charities who have excelled in improving life for others. 2009 sees the lunch celebrating its 54th year of celebrating the achievements of women. All the women attending are deemed Women of the Year by the Nominating Council led by Joan Armatrading MBE.

Chairman Gill Carrick said, ‘It is rare for Women of the Year to nominate such young women but these 13-17 year olds have shown outstanding qualities of independence and good citizenship, and have worked so hard to fundraise and to raise awareness about issues in their own community and internationally, that the committee felt that they should be honoured.

Bex Bailey, 17, deserves special mention because she was leading the citizenship club at the time of Giving Nation's prestigious award and she was doing so independently of any help from teachers, parents or any other adult. Today the club continues to be run by the students without any outside help. We feel that the example set by these young women is a beacon of hope particularly at a time when British teenagers receive so much negative press.'

Each attendee will receive a free copy of OCR Citizenship Studies for GCSE short and full courses.

There will be wine and nibbles.

When: Thursday 24th September from 4.30pm onwards
Where: Middle Temple, Middle Temple Lane, London EC4Y 9AT

For more details visit www.hoddereducation.co.uk/events.

The Citizenship Foundation is looking for schools to undertake a trial of one or two units and complete an evaluation form. All completed forms will go into a prize draw for £50 of book tokens.

The resource can be integrated into individual curriculum subjects, used in stand-alone citizenship sessions or as an inter-disciplinary tool to help teachers deliver a European element across their school or college curriculam. The resource is available in several different European languages which could make it adaptable for Foreign Language lessons as well.

The resource can be downloaded for free at the Network of European Foundations' website.

If you are a teacher interested in trialling one or more units please email Ruxandra Ratiu, the International Project Officer on ruxandra.ratiu@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk by October 1st 2009.

Vince Cable, MP; Paul Hilder, Director of the Avaaz Campaign and Kamalesh Sharma the Commonwealth Secretary General are among the panel of experts.

The event is free to attend and will take place on 10 December at the Commonwealth Foundation, London, from 3pm to 5.15pm. There will be 60 students in attendance on the day as well as other guests. The panel will be chaired by the Chair of Trustees of the Citizenships Foundation, Michael Maclay.

We are looking for London schools to each bring five students to the event. To register your interest email Ruxandra Ratiu, International Project Officer at the Citizenship Foundation by Friday 16th October 2009.

*Margaret Quass was previously the director of the Council for Education in World Citizenship (CEWC), which merged with the Citizenship Foundation in September 2008. CEWC has had a momentous history in informing young people about the purpose and nature of the UN. The UK government funded CEWC and education ministers from all political parties were also supportive. CEWC and its members have helped the birth of many important organisations including Oxfam, Freedom from Hunger, Voluntary Service Overseas, Community Service Volunteers and the Association for Citizenship Teaching. CEWC was present at the first United Nations General Assembly in London. One of the major achievements of the United Nations was the creation of an international framework of law on Human Rights. Also in 1945 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was formed, and again CEWC facilitated the birth.

ruxandra.ratiu@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk

This course, which is FREE to all primary and secondary teachers of citizenship in England with QTS, is ideal for citizenship teachers with some experience but little or no formal training in citizenship. The course prepares teachers to satisfy the DCSF Standards for Citizenship Education.

The course will last 6 months and teachers will have additional time to prepare a portfolio of evidence and write three essays, reflecting critically on their own practice in the light of the course literature. Enquiries about course content or eligibility should be directed to Don Rowe at the Citizenship Foundation or phone 0207 566 4135. 

The Foundation is largely grant funded, and its programmes teams also play a significant role in fundraising and development of their own projects. This position requires excellent interpersonal and influencing skills in order to work successfully across the different departments in the organisation as well as with the team members you line manage directly.

Application deadline: 25 September 2009 

More about the position of Team Leader: Fundraising

From April 2010 the Director of Strategy and Development is also responsible for setting the timetable and process for review of the strategic plan which will run from 2010 - 2013.

The Director of Strategy and Development is a member of the Senior Leadership Team of the Citizenship Foundation, alongside the Director of Programmes and Innovation and the Director of Finance and Resources, all of whom also report into the Chief Executive.

Application deadline: 25 September 2009

More about the post of Director, Strategy and Development

• Email Harry Wilkinson
• Tel: 0191 456 8929 Ext:228

We are equally delighted to welcome Heather Parsons to the other GNST post after performing heroically for our sister primary programme, GoGivers, over the past year. Heather, a former Local Authority adviser for PSHE & Citizenship within Hampshire, is bringing her wealth of experiences and extensive understanding of both primary and secondary school curriculums to her post. Heather will be based at The Romsey School but will be supporting and advising Giving Nation schools across Southampton, Portsmouth and Hampshire. Heather will also be charged with looking at how secondary schools can build better ties with their communities.

• Email Heather Parsons
• Tel: 01794 512334

If you are in either region and require Giving Nation support or training get in touch with Harry and Heather directly. If you are teaching outside of these regions then organise a free appointment at your school via our outreach team.

• Email Anella Taylor
• Tel: 0207 566 4158

Most recently, we have updated all of our units and developed two new units: Family Law and Housing Law. We are also pleased to welcome two new participating organisations to the programme - Stephenson Harwood and Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council - who will begin working with their partner schools this academic year. 

Our brand new website www.lawyersinschools.org.uk provides lots of information about Lawyers in Schools including: how it works, the many benefits for lawyers, teachers and students; a film about the programme; latest news and case studies; a sample resource and much more.

The website also has a members' only area that enables participants to login to access information about their partner schools and sessions. Participants can also download the resources and training materials for the sessions, and news articles about the topics they will be discussing with the students.

To find out more, visit www.lawyersinschools.org.uk or contact Ruth Cohen on ruth.cohen@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk or 020 7566 5038. 

As MCMT Project Officer, you will have overall responsibility for preparing and running the annual cycle of the competition. You will also have responsibility for developing the competition in line with the aims of the Foundation.

The deadline for applications is Thursday 24th September. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 30th September.

If you had five minutes to talk with the Attorney General on what should be different in the UK today, what would you say?

The competition closes at midnight on Wednesday 16th September and the Attorney General will select up to 30 top entries, those selected will be announced on the 22nd September at a launch event in London. The winning entrants will be invited to become members of the Attorney General's Youth Advisory Council. The first meeting of the Youth Advisory Council will be held by November. The top three entries will also receive an Attorney General award.

This is a chance to be recognised and to make a real difference. The Attorney General will write to those selected for the Attorney General Youth Advisory Council, their head teachers and local MP's congratulating them on their achievement.

- have shown innovation or creativity in their volunteering

- demonstrated leadership in creating and developing projects

- used their energy, commitment and enthusiasm to raise awareness

- created something worth replicating elsewhere and inspired others

- demonstrated a willingness to develop their talents into new areas

The deadline for entries is 27th September 2009. Young people can self nominate or be nominated by someone who recognizes their achievements - the nomination form is available to download on the Young Achievers website.

See the website for further information.

We can now confirm that the final for this year's competition will take place in Edinburgh in March 2010. This is an exciting opportunity to experience the Scottish legal system first hand.

They will tackle topical issues and will be able to question leaders in politics, the law, police and media in order to aid their understanding and tackle these issues. With this knowledge group members will produce resources to be used by peers, as well as teachers in mainstream education, police and youth workers by August 2010. 

Citizenship Foundation is working in collaboration with experienced representatives from the Young Muslims Advisory Group, Muslim Youth Helpline, Three Faiths Forum and British Muslims for a Secular Democracy. 

The closing date for applications is 31st September 2009 with the induction meeting scheduled for October.

• Volunteer specification (pdf)
• Volunteer application form (pdf)

For more information please contact Jaheeda Subhan on 020 7566 4138.

Commenting on the publication of ‘Unleashing Aspiration', Dr Tony Breslin, Chief Executive of the Citizenship Foundation and a member of an advisory group that supported the Panel's work, said:

‘Since its establishment twenty years ago, the Citizenship Foundation has sought to deliver programmes that enable young people to learn about law, politics and finance through working alongside practising lawyers, politicians and finance professionals. Our non-too-hidden agenda has been to reach young people who might not be able to access these professional contacts through their family and community networks, building their understanding and broadening their horizons in the process, and we are pleased that the Fair Access to the Professions Panel recognises our efforts by mentioning Citizenship Foundation programmes such as the Bar National Mock Trial Competition, the Magistrates Court Mock Trial Competition, Lawyers in Schools, the National Youth Parliament Competition and Paying For It in its report. While these programmes have been conceived as curriculum interventions rather than careers 'lessons', many young people from poorer backgrounds who have participated in these projects have gone on to careers in the law and other areas and acknowledge that they would not have done so had it not been for their engagement in these initiatives.

‘Of course, we need better resourced - and appropriately targeted - Careers Education and Guidance and the kind of mentoring support set out in the report, but we also need to get practising professionals into the DNA of schools in poorer areas, active in curriculum programmes such as ours and involved on governing bodies and in community projects. This kind of contact can open-up professional possibilities to young people that were simply not on the horizon.

‘Finally, we welcome the report's proposals on the need to draw the growth of internships and work placements into a stronger equal opportunities framework. Increasingly, these provide a vital, but essentially secret, conduit into the professions and into politics in particular.

‘By helping more professionals to get involved in schools and by making internships more accessible, the Government can open up fairer access to the professions. The professions will be all the stronger for their new recruits, as will the communities from which these young people emerge'.

Children Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls said "Today's young people are tomorrow's leaders and ‘The Youth of Today' is a programme unlike any other where the focus is on young people getting to grips with leadership roles.

The Youth of Today is managed by a range of leading organisations: The National Youth Agency (NYA), Changemakers, The Young Foundation, UK Youth Parliament, British Youth Council, the Prince's Trust and the Citizenship Foundation. The consortium will deliver a range of opportunities over the next two years, including a Youth Fellowship programme, a ministerial shadowing scheme, a programme for youth engagement with local councils, a young leaders campaign, and many others.

On 8th July 2009, Giving Nation and the local authority held an event for the top student teams of social entrepreneurs from each school to pitch their enterprise idea. The most innovative and effective enterprise team would be crowned as winners of the inaugural Cumbria Giving Nation Challenge Schools Award.

The student-led project teams of Year 9 students were given six weeks to find ways of raising money and awareness for their chosen cause, charity or community issue. Teams worked on their enterprise plans that ranged from car washes and car boot sales to community gardens, in support of their various causes. At the end of six weeks each school conducted their own selection process in which they each selected a top enterprising team. This winning group in each school then prepared to face the judges at the regional final.

After a fantastic display of enterprising ideas, and a tough decision making process for the judges, place-getters were announced. In the runner-up spot was Thorncliffe School who had spent just £2 of the Giving Nation Challenge grant to run a car-washing day at their school raising £119 for Cancer Research.

The overall winner was The Helping Paw team from St Bernard's Catholic High School, whose winning initiative was created by four friends. This group of enterprising teens had been closely following a local news story about a funding crisis at a local dog shelter in the lead up to the Giving Nation Challenge. This prompted them to design their social enterprise to offer support and to raise money in order to help keep the shelter open.

Having already secured free advertising and donations from at least four local companies, the students will hold an event to introduce the public to the work of Barrow Kennels, through a day of activities including a petting zoo, pet photography competition and sale of merchandise designed by the team.

"When we came up with the plan to support the kennels we realised that we needed to play up to our strengths to raise as much money and awareness as possible. Connie is great at art so she designed the merchandise. Grace is good at maths so she took on costing and the spreadsheet, Carolyn was in charge of planning and I took up the job of calling every one." Ashton aged 14 from the team explained.

It was not all smooth sailing for the budding entrepreneurs however. While planning their enterprise activity - an event to be held at a local park - the students faced some big challenges in the shape of public liability issues. As a result, and with just two weeks to go to the final, the students were forced to re-think the location of their event.

"The students dealt with the challenge of finding a new location and the complications of public liability with a great amount of maturity and common sense. Seeing them be so proactive, whilst learning about how they can help the community, has to be the best outcome of this process." Geography Teacher, Jennifer Whitman explained.

The St Bernard's High School group's recipe for success included a six week schedule in which the students swapped their free time and six geography and history lessons for building their social enterprise plan. Next they created a winning pitch they felt sure would convince their fellow students, school senior management team, and eventually a panel of expert judges, that their campaign idea was the most feasible and beneficial for a community cause.

"We organised a team of judges from the school's senior management team who all students were invited to pitch to. The students presented some brilliant ideas, but the Helping Paw team were the most pragmatic and well-organised. Whilst their idea was ambitious they had really thought out how to make the event feasible." said Jennifer Whitman.

The Giving Nation Challenge was implemented in Cumbria to stimulate interest and learning across charities, community issues and the role of social enterprise, and then to provide students with an opportunity to put their entrepreneurial skills to work for a good cause. This has most certainly been achieved for the many Year 9 students who participated and the project has even produced some inspiring ambassadors.

"Getting out in the world and talking to people we would never normally meet about such an important cause has to be one of the best outcomes for us. The Challenge is such a great experience to share with your mates and I think we've all become better friends running our Challenge." Grace, 14 explained.

"Working with Giving Nation this year has really helped us to embed enterprise learning in the curriculum of Barrow secondary schools. The teachers are now fully equipped to empower young people in Barrow to create their own social enterprises. The Giving Nation Challenge is a sustainable project that with the real commitment we can now see in Barrow schools will continue to benefit youngsters and the causes they support in Cumbria for years to come." Julia Greere, Enterprise Learning Coordinator concluded.

The Giving Nation Challenge is funded by the Cabinet Office - Office of the Third Sector and is provided free to all secondary schools in England.

For more information please contact the Giving Nation Team
Tel: 0207 566 4141  Email: g-nation@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk