Why we do it
Britain has one of lowest rates of social mobility amongst OECD countries.
Children in the schools we work with have little scope for social mobility – many are under-achievers with low self-esteem and poor communication skills, leading to little motivation towards higher education and few employment opportunities. Crucially, they lack exposure to role models to give them direction and inspire them to fulfil their potential.
We believe that our programmes address this: we increase the young people’s scope for social mobility. How? Peer-led debating promotes:
- Communication skills
- Teamwork skills
- Higher-order thinking skills
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Academic achievement
- Attitudes towards school
- Engagement with social issues
- Aspirations and expectations
In other places where our programmes run – Israel/Palestine, Nepal – not only does this increase social mobility, but it creates a change in national dialogue.
