In a few days time 70 young people aged 15-17 travel from across the globe to attend a transformational two-week leadership programme at Wellington College. This year, for the first time we will be welcoming a number of students from the UK to Global Social Leaders on a full bursary. The bursary was created as a direct result of the Character Award prize fund awarded to Future Foundations by the Department for Education, in recognition of our work to develop and deliver impactful character education.
Recipients of the Character Award Bursary will not only attend the two week residential but will also be challenged to create a Global Social Leaders Society within their schools for the coming year, ensuing cross-school benefit. On Friday 14th August Future Foundations and Wellington Leadership Institute will host the first ever Global Social Leaders Teacher Summit, funded by the DfE Character Award. This unique one-day event will bring together bursary winners’ schools with educators from around the world to experience Global Social Leaders, share learning and explore how to widen the impact of GSL training and philosophy to ensure whole school benefits.
Schools with students selected to receive the Character Award Bursary
Our six selected bursary winners attend The Holt School and St Crispins School in Wokingham, Kendrick School in Reading, Gordano School in North Somerset, North London Collegiate School and Christ’s School in Richmond. They were selected in June 2015 following an online application process, promoted through their schools. Candidates were assessed on their understanding of leadership, interest in social causes and desire to create positive impact in their school and local community.
As you might expect we received a large number of applications, demonstrating a passionate drive among this country’s youth to step up and make change for the better. Many applicants were already engaged in an impressive array of campaigning, fundraising and direct social action on a wide range of causes that touch their lives and others. Their interests ranged from addressing the stigma attached to mental health to tackling child marriage and access to education in the developing world.
Our judging panel were impressed by the range and depth of knowledge of global social issues demonstrated by the successful candidates and feel that both they and their school community stand to gain hugely from developing their leadership skills. Next week they join a global network of young leaders and we cannot wait to see the global change-makers they become!