LACE’s #iwill pledge is to “encourage as many of our pupils as possible to work with others and for others”. The impact of this is threefold

1. LACE has raised the profile of our pupils’ community engagement both in school and in the local and educational community. Having a central system which facilitates youth social action through establishing contacts and drawing common themes together means that we are more open to opportunities for our young people to work with and for others. By connecting with youth organisations where some of our young people already volunteer we are able to recognise and celebrate those achievements and also signpost other young people to the opportunities that they may have otherwise missed. It also enables community groups who wish to engage with young people a way in and much of our intergenerational work has been developed through an identified need in the community rather than being led by the school. This ensures the youth action is not tokenistic but meaningful and sustainable.

   

   

   

   

   

2. The impact on the school community is that more events that exist within the school calendar have been able to be coproduced by young people themselves. Pupils in the senior phase have more chances to peer lead activities and our House system is strengthened by the opportunities for whole school events led by House Captains and participated by members of their house.
3. The impact on the individual pupil is that being able to “give something back” becomes a key driver in many of our pupils’ lives. This means that engagement with charities is not just seen as something to do with non uniform days and donating pounds but ( as one of our S3 pupil’s did after establishing a connection with the charity Bumblebee babies) spending 200 hours knitting tiny baby hats or standing outside in the rain and wind coaching 8 year olds in football skills. By S6 all of our pupils are encouraged to give up some of their free time to help other people and this may range from 1 period a week supporting younger pupils in a subject that they enjoy to encouraging everyone to buy Fairtrade goods at parents’ evenings, spending an afternoon a week in a community café or charity shop, acting as a classroom assistant at a local primary school, teaching in the local mosque or Chinese group, coaching a myriad of sports from Athletics to Zumba or supporting adults in the local dementia friendly singing or the neurological unit. The fact that they will have plenty to write on their personal statement is not the aim- many of our pupils need adult mentors to remind them to include all these activities as it is so embedded in what they do, they cannot imagine it has any great significance in how people see them. The aim is to illustrate our school values – compassion, respect, tolerance, inclusiveness, embracing change, high expectations, ambition and continuous improvement which together help our pupils feel safe, happy and fulfil their potential as members of our wider community.