April 2021

Through a practical learning experience, Envision brings together local businesses, schools, charities and volunteers to ’learn by doing good’.

Despite the Pandemic and school closures, Envision have adapted their programmes to be delivered in a virtual or blended approach.  Over the past 6 months they have engaged over 300 young people in London, Birmingham and Bristol on their Community-Apprentice programme, helping to give them a sense of purpose and opportunities to develop their social emotional skills.

The Community-Apprentice Programme is a structured cross-school active citizenship competition.  Young people pick a social cause that affects their community and a local charity they believe is helping to combatting this issue. Working together as a team, alongside their Envision coach and business mentors they design, deliver and host a virtual event to engage employees in their partner business.  Whilst delivering their projects they develop their social confidence whilst benefiting from talking to mentors from the world of work.

Across Birmingham, young people hosted a series of online interactive quiz events to raise money for charities such as Refugee Support Network, Mad Hatters, Let’s Feed Brum, St Mary’s Hospice & Redthread.  Young people were inspired by supporting their charities and despite the lockdown 84% continued on their projects during school closures.  They designed and hosted quizzes that were all about their chosen charity and the real-life issues they are tackling.  173 employees from local companies attended these events, raising a total of £2010 for various local charities.  They could not have been more proud of their achievements.

At the end of the programme, young people from the Envision Birmingham teams were joined by other schools and businesses on the programme for a final virtual Pitching Challenge event.  Each team presented a persuasive pitch to our panel of VIP judges.  Envision staff then presented individual and team awards to both young people and business mentors for achievements throughout the programme.  Finally, the Envision judges announced the winner of the pitch who received additional funding for their chosen charity.

“This is just a fantastic reminder of what education should be about.  Helping and supporting youngsters to progress and opening doors for them to reach their goals.” -Mike, Teacher, Four Dwellings Academy

 ‘I think I really enjoyed just having one thing every week where I knew I didn’t have to stress as much as with normal school lessons. So this was really fun to do and a great chance to just talk to other people! -Taaranjot, young person, Holyhead School