Courageous Advocacy
What is Courageous Advocacy?
‘Courageous advocacy’ involves being courageous enough to speak out against injustice. We encourage our pupils to come together to become informed about issues that people across the world are facing. We look at the actions that can be taken to tackle these issues and to support and educate other people. They learn about improving both their local community as well as helping to address global problems. Think Globally – Act Locally.
Our children live out the school’s theologically rooted Christian values by supporting others through a wide range of actions during the year. The Young Leaders and Eco-Army are active in looking to address local, national and international issues. The school has been active in raising awareness and support for a variety of local, national and international charities: Christian Aid, Children in Need, Northumberland Zoo, Key to Life Food Bank, School Connect Clothes Bank…
However, encouraging children to be courageous advocates goes beyond simply raising funds once or twice a year. It requires time to introduce them to a range of issues faced across the world before giving them the opportunities to raise awareness and help find solutions.
Courageous advocacy opportunities within school, whilst being responsive to issues that arise throughout the school year, are broadly mapped against our curriculum to ensure that children make meaningful links between their learning and social action.
In 2015, world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals. These ambiguous goals aim to create a better world by 2030, by ending poverty, fighting inequality and addressing the urgency of climate change. These goals form a basis for many of the courageous advocacy opportunities which link to our curriculum. The goals are:
Courageous Advocacy at Cleadon C of E Academy
Food Bank Donations
In October, we held our Harvest Festivals showcases across the school with the Junior Leadership Team collecting items for a local food bank. On Monday, Hospitality and Hope came into school to collect the kind donations of food for their charity. The children enjoyed organising the collection and handing over their donation.
Eco Team Planting
The Eco team did a wonderful job clearing the flower boxes and planting some new plants. They’re looking forward to seeing them bloom outside the main entrance. They understand that they need to care for the plants to ensure that they flourish and grow to their potential.
Eco Team Recycling Project
At Christmas, the Eco Team came up with a wonderful idea of making recycled Christmas decorations. Following a child viewing an advert on the TV looking at deforestation, the group decided they wanted to support the Woodland Trust and their campaign on saving trees. The children collected recycled materials from families and made some wonderful decorations. They sold these decorations at the Christmas performances making £140. The children then selected plants and trees that they wanted to purchase and planted them around the school site. We look forward to seeing them grow and flourish.
Leaf collecting
We have a beautiful school site but have the hazard of lots of trees with millions of leaves. A group of Year 5 children went to see Mr Scott to ask if they could clear the school car park and driveway as the leaves were becoming a slip hazard and looked a little messy. The children spent several lunchtimes clearing the leaves which was a never ending task.
Plastic Recycling
Two Year 6 boys saw a notice of a plastic recycling campaign in the local area and were very keen to get involved. They brought this to the attention of the Junior Leadership Team who began a campaign in school. This was an excellent opportunity for families to recycle their plastic sweet tubs from the Christmas period.
MacMillan Coffee Afternoon
In September, the Junior Leadership Team held a coffee afternoon to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Research. They also asked parents & carers to bring in their own cups to reduce the amount of wastage from the event.
Seeds2Trees
Our Eco Team have recently started their participation in a two-year scheme with Seeds2Trees. We have planted Oak, Hazel, Alder and Birch seeds. We've had two visits from the organisation to launch the project and plant the seeds. It is hoped that we will be able to handover the young trees in two-years so they can be planted at a designated site in the North East. In that time, we will learn more about biodiversity in British woodlands, climate change and further our appreciation of the world created by God.
