Between 13th – 14th July 2015, Future Foundations decamped to Cambridge for our second Bright Futures programme with Wembley High Technology College. Developing on the Bright Futures one day programme we held at Newnham College, Cambridge last month, this was a two day residential experience for 40 of their most able Year 8s.
The programme was designed to raise their awareness of Higher Education by experiencing student life at Fitzwilliam College in Cambridge. Young people stayed in University halls of residence, explored the city centres famous landmarks and colleges and expanded their horizons with the constant encouragement and guidance of Future Foundations’ experienced coaches. Over the course of two days they carried out an intensive series of experiential learning sessions and challenges to develop their leadership skills and increase confidence, teamwork and personal aspirations.
The Bright Futures programme was Course Directed by Andy Dunn and our Future Foundations coaches were Mandy Tang, Jakub Goscinny, Elizabeth Annor-Agyei and John Paul Metcalfe.
- Enable students to discover what they can study at university, tuition style and student lifestyle.
- Encourage students to take personal responsibility for their futures; to be proactive in their approach to their studies and the future benefits of doing so.
- Help the students to understand what it means to be a leader
- Communicate the importance of leadership and the future leadership needs for society
- Foster the belief that with gifts/talents come a responsibility to use them for the better of others
- Open students’ minds to goal setting and equip them with time management skills
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Fitzwilliam began in 1869 as a non-collegiate institution, providing Cambridge education to undergraduates who were unable to afford membership of a college. Situated a short walk from the city centre, the College’s buildings span an impressive 200 years of architecture and have won numerous international design awards. Fitzwilliam is now home to around 450 undergraduates, 300 graduate students and 90 fellows
The college has a reputation for inclusion and academic excellence, with former pupils of state schools making up 67% of its first year UK undergraduates in 2014.
This was an incredible programme to coach, with young people that stepped up to every activity we set them. I led a team of 10 young people, supported by a WHTC teacher and with such small teams it was possible to build real rapport with every student.
I was particularly impressed by the way my group tackled the ‘Cambridge City Challenge’ embracing responsibility, thinking creatively and showing a drive and determination to succeed as a team! They didn’t ‘win’ the activity but learned a more important life lesson that sometimes, despite giving your all you don’t succeed. We had a fantastic reflection about the importance of ‘enjoying the journey’ which led to a positive attitudinal shift!
Whilst clearing up we discovered a post it note on the floor of a room we had been using for feedback. On it a young person had written that the Bright Futures programme made them feel #fearless. This sums up the whole experience for me, I feel truely inspired and moved by the time I spent with these remarkable students…and to those of you reading this I will be reading ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ this Summer – on your recommendation!
Elizabeth Annor-Agyei, Coach
Wembley High, thank you for inspiring me to read more as at the Higher Education day I mentioned that I don’t read enough. Today I finally finished reading ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ as you recommended and it is such a beautifully written book! Now I hope to read more often and I hope you are challenging yourselves to do something you may not necessarily do often.
‘If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.’ On that note, change to routine/habits may be hard, but beneficial and worthwhile.