Latest development
September 2008 sees the launch of updated workshops and materials designed to ensure People & Planet provide students at schools and colleges with the best support possible. Our ‘Go Green’ materials now include great windmill petitions and our revamped Fairtrade action guide has a new debate section
Book a workshop
Simply give us a call on 01865 245678
Our package of support to schools and colleges
People & Planet: Empowering young people to take action for social and environmental justice
People & Planet offer an unrivalled package of support to schools and colleges. We run workshops with the aim of setting up a student action group in your school.
We start with an introductory workshop on a global issue, which will raise awareness and inspire your students to take action on global issues.
We then visit the group of interested students a few weeks or months later to run a capacity building workshop to help develop the skills needed to run an action group.
We offer ongoing support and advice to students who take action as part of a People & Planet group, as well as giving them the opportunity to take part in our events.
Level 1: Climate Change and Fairtrade Workshops
People & Planet can visit your school or college to run a workshop on Fairtrade or Climate Change. This is an introductory level session designed to introduce your students to a pressing global issue and help them set up an action group in your school or college.
We need at least one hour to run the workshop and it is very interactive and fun. It is not like a lecture! Workshops are packed with games and activities to help students engage with the issues.
“Inspirational”
Teacher, William Morris School, Autumn 2006
“I thought the visit was very valuable and I’m pleased these issues are brought home in such an interesting and lively way.”
Teacher, Rickstones School, Spring 2007
“I think it was really good and it informed me a lot about what we could do to help the planet. The presenter really made me feel I could do something about climate change.”
Student, Broomfield School, Autumn 2006
In the Fairtrade workshop we cover some of the problems with world trade, such as trade rules and poor conditions for producers. Then we look at some positive solutions such as Fairtrade. We help students think of ways they can campaign for Fairtrade in their school and for Trade Justice.
In the Climate Change workshop we look at the devastating impacts of climate change on weather systems and people’s lives all over the world. We discuss what causes climate change and where carbon emissions come from. We then look at how students can help their school or college to reduce its carbon footprint.
Level 2: Capacity Building Workshops
Once a student action group is set up at your school or college, we can come back and visit you a couple of weeks or months later. Capacity building issues workshops are perfect for following on directly from a Level 1 workshop or as an intial workshop for more advanced and motivated students or existing People & Planet groups. They are designed to give your students the skills they need to campaign successfully on the issue they chose. Capacity building skills workshops are designed to help students develop their skills regarding working together effectively in a group and successful campaigning.
Capacity building issues workshops to choose from:
Climate Change: “Go Green”
Schools and colleges have a huge role in climate change, schools alone account for 15% of carbon emissions from the UK public sector. People & Planet have a developed an exciting programme, structured around DfES’ Sustainable Schools guidelines, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of schools and colleges. The Go Green workshop will help students to strategically & creatively plan their campaign for a low-carbon school or college.Fairtrade: “Fairtrade Schools”
People & Planet along with the Fairtrade Foundation and 14 other organisations have pooled their experiences and ideas and designed a new super-scheme. The Fairtrade Schools workshop looks at how students can go about getting the prestigious Fairtrade Status award for their school from the Fairtrade Foundation.
Capacity building skills workshops to choose from:
Building an Invincible Team This module covers: Developing a strong, sustainable group and working well in a team, recruiting new members to your group, sharing tasks and responsibilities, holding effective meetings.
Making Things Happen This module covers: How to plan and win strategic and targeted campaigns.
Influencing People This module covers: Communicating campaign messages, talking persuasively about your campaign and encouraging others to take action, lobbying skills.
- Alternatively we can tailor make a workshop to suit your group!
Capacity building workshops take MINIMUM 1 hour, but if you allow 1.5 to 2 hours we can run a much more in depth workshop.
All our workshops have post-16 curriculum links to subjects including Citizenship, Geography, RE and Economics and will enrich students’ UCAS applications.
Book a workshop
Simply give us a call on 01865 245678 to book your very own interactive and inspiring workshop and take the first step towards forming a People & Planet action group in your school!
Groups
Our introductory workshop is designed to help you set up a student action group, which we will then support. You can also set up a group in your school or college yourself. Your group will become part of our national network of student action groups all over the country. Your students can come along to our events and receive our regular emails and newsletters. You will have a staff member allocated to your group who will support and advise you.
Check out if there is a group at your school already.
Donations for speakers
To help cover the costs of an introductory workshop on climate change or Fair Trade we ask for a donation of £90. Many schools have budgets set aside to pay for visiting speakers. The suggested donation contributes towards the very basic costs to People & Planet of visiting your school, including travelling from Oxford and providing materials for students. It does not reflect the real costs to People & Planet of providing our service. Overall, our work in sixth forms costs People & Planet £350,000 per year, and it would be impossible to continue such work were it not for the generous donations we receive from our supporters.
When visiting a Sixth Form People & Planet Group to do a capacity building skills workshop there is no standard donation. However a donation to help cover our travel costs from Oxford would be greatly appreciated.
People & Planet is committed to diversity and wishes all schools and students to benefit from our workshops, regardless of their ability to donate. Should your institution be unable to make a donation we can still visit you, just call us on 01856 245678.
Workshop Leaders
One of our professional workshop leaders from the Sixth Forms Team will come and run your workshop. This person will then become the support person for your action group. They can provide ongoing help and advice to the group.