Empower 10,000 UK Youth to Change the World!

With the support of our GlobalGiving donors, we are so excited to share that the ‘Be the Change!’ programme is expanding in York! On the week beginning the 15 September, we launched at two Secondary schools in York and began working with the University of York to recruit and train mentors to facilitate workshops.

At Bootham’s School, York, PeaceJam launched ‘Be the Change!’ across Year 7 to Year 12, totalling 380 students. This included creating resources, such as video content and collaborative activities to start promoting discussions around peace and conflict, this was then rolled out in tutor time for Years 7-11. Additionally, PeaceJam spoke to the Year 12 cohort, promoting the programme and other opportunities to develop projects and create change through PeaceJam initiatives. Following this launch, students from across the school have been meeting on a Tuesday afternoon every week to develop social action projects.

Three Year 12 students also applied and are now social media interns for PeaceJam UK. They have undergone Social Media Training and are volunteering every week, developing skills they aim to put to use as part of the ‘Be the Change!’ programme, when building and implementing their projects.

At the Mount School, York, PeaceJam UK ran five initial ‘Be the Change!’ workshops across Year 7 to Year 11, totally 90 students. Students discussed their concerns and worries, which included exam pressure, deforestation, animal rights and many other local and global issues. PeaceJam UK will then aim to empower students to address these issues through action in further ‘Be the Change!’ workshops.

With your support, PeaceJam UK will return in the Spring Term to York to continue to develop the programme. Apart from increasing our reach in York, PeaceJam UK, is also working with schools in Havant and Bournemouth this Autumn Term and has plans to revisit our partner schools in Manchester and Bolton in the Spring Term. This would not be possible without your support, thank you.

We are excited to share that with the support of our GlobalGiving donors, our ‘Be the Change!’ programme has continued to grow this Summer Term, launching in two new schools and renewing at Manchester Communication Academy, which is excited to continue its successful involvement in the programme.

In May, PeaceJam UK was able to facilitate a proactive outside workshop with sixty aspiring students at Sharples School in Bolton. Through fun group activities and discussions, students were able to identify and discuss the various communities they belonged to and share their concerns. Over the next academic year, these students will have the opportunity to develop social action projects and implement positive change locally, addressing these concerns. Which, because of our GlobalGiving donors, will be supported by further PeaceJam UK workshops.

Likewise, Smithills School in Bolton launched PeaceJam with the Student Council, laying the groundwork for the skills and reflective practices to be disseminated throughout the school through peer-to-peer learning. Both Smithills School and Manchester Communication Academy were the first to trial ‘Be the Change!’ workshops that featured new and creative approaches to discussion and engagement in small group sessions of ten and fifteen students. With your vital contributions, PeaceJam UK staff and mentors can continue to train and develop their skills to ensure student learning and development is inclusive, proactive and transformative.

On 20 November 2025, PeaceJam UK will be hosting an Online Conference led by youth, for youth, bringing PeaceJam directly to students across the UK. Thank you for making this possible.

Links:

• PeaceJam UK Upcoming Events

• PeaceJam UK Online Conference (PDF)