Stratford-upon-Avon and partner college Solihull College & University Centre are delighted to announce that they will be a Youth Social Action (YSA) ambassador college as part of a unique social action programme, in partnership with the Pears Foundation and Association of Colleges.
YSA sees students participate in activities which impact their college and the local community whilst also developing their skills for the future. This is the second phase of this initiative: the first phase saw apprentices across the project complete their Level 3 Youth Social Worker qualification in 2022. They collectively engaged 10,870 students in youth social action and built relationships with 424 local organisations and 118 national partners. This meant that around 18,496 members of the community benefited from their work.
Stratford-upon-Avon College (SUAC) and Solihull College & University Centre (SCUC) have recruited eight youth social action ambassadors to lead on planning, delivering and evaluating a social action project for the year. They will encourage their peers to participate in their chosen project, develop their employability skills, all whilst giving back and supporting the local community.
The students involved are Oliwia Sarata (SUAC Performing Arts), Jess Walsh (SCUC Hairdressing), Heather Hawthorne (SCUC Business), Rhea Chane (SCUC Sports), Tyler Tomlinson (SUAC Media), Bonnie Davidson (SCUC Health and Social Care), Megan Bacalla (SCUC Science) and Greyson Daws (SCUC Psychology, Criminology & Law).
Each student has a different drive for why they are participating in this project. Tyler Tomlinson commented: “I put myself forward to be part of the youth social ambassadors because I want to help make a change around college and in the community. I also wanted to be a part of this project because I hope to learn a lot of life skills and develop my confidence!”
Heather Hawthorne said: “I have joined Youth Social Ambassadors to make change within the college. I want to make college as inclusive as possible where everyone is able to achieve their goals and feel positive of their progression.”
Sam Bansal, Student Enrichment Officer and Line Manager of the project for the colleges, is incredibly excited to be leading the group: “The Youth Social Action Ambassadors project is great as it gives students the space to work together to create a really fun and important project on a topic that they are passionate about that is affecting the community around them. I am excited about the impact our events will have at the College and on the wider community.”
The College is excited to see what impactful projects the students choose and deliver.
Notes to Editors
Pears Foundation is an independent family foundation rooted in Jewish values. Pears Foundation invests around £25million each year in a wide range of charitable organisations and causes, remaining closely involved with their partners to support and guide them in the pursuit of their goals. For more information see our website or contact Bridget Kohner, bkohner@pearsfoundation.org.uk.
Association of Colleges is the national voice for further education, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in England. We are a not-for-profit membership organisation established in 1996 by colleges, for colleges. Our members make up almost 95% of the sector – transforming 2.2 million lives each year. For more information, or to arrange to speak to a spokesperson, please contact Kate Parker Press & PR Manager, Association of Colleges, Kate.Parker@aoc.co.uk.
