Citizenship champions
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City College Norwich
Post-16 Citizenship activity at City College Norwich
The aim of the citizenship programme at City College Norwich is to develop in our students a skills set and knowledge base in order to enable them to participate in college life, contribute to our very active Student Union and to enact change where needed. Students at City College are involved in all levels of the decision making process through the structure of Course Representation and the Student Parliament. Students also sit on the Board of Governors, the Finance Committee, Health and Safety Committee and the Inclusive Learning Committee.
Citizenship is also incorporated into the wider Enrichment Programme. Student-lead focus groups are used to identify students’ needs and from this a range of opportunities are offered.
The events weeks and guest lectures form part of the College’s commitment to promoting diversity and providing an insight in to other cultures with the overall aim of broadening our students’ horizons. Peer mentoring and fundraising for charities promotes the sense of social and moral responsibility while participating in college debates enhances students’ awareness of controversial and political issues.
Our activities with citizenship focus include:
- M8 (‘mate’) mentoring scheme; a volunteer peer mentoring scheme where our leaners identify issues to raise awareness with their fellow students.
- Debating Society; we have monthly debates and also have a debating forum set up on-line.
- Citizenship events; during the academic year, we organise educational events weeks with a citizenship theme.
- The Student Union; we have a very active Student Union whose activities encorporate managing the Course Rep scheme and Student Parliament.
- Fundraising; the Enrichment Programme is linking in with the charity the Norwich-Dedza Partnership which raise awareness of the differences and similarities in the ways or life in Norwich and the Dedza district in Malawi.
Following meetings between the citizenship coordinator and Student Union, it was agreed that learners would benefit from flexible short courses for accrediting their involvement citizenship and Student Union activities.
Guest speakers identified by the students union:
- Grass Roots Theatre for Development
- Ainsley Burrows performance poetry
- Black History in Norfolk tutorials
- Amnesty International lunchtime talk
- PADEAP ‘African solutions to African problems’ talk
- Malawi fundraising campaign talk
- Make Poverty History talk
- Drug awareness and sexual health awareness lessons
- Gap Year projects
- Road Safety Unit
- STAR (Student Action for Refugees)
Citizenship coordinator's top tips for setting up post-16 citizenship activity:
- Ensure you have senior manager support for citizenship in your institution
- Work across your institution with tutors and the Student Union
- Make contacts within your local community and link to citizenship activities within your institution
- Try to keep up to speed with national developments in citizenship
- Link your citizenship delivery to national events i.e. Refugee Awareness Week
How this organisation could help you:
Colleagues are welcome to visit City College Norwich to observe what goes on during events such as our Student Parliament or One World Week. We are also very happy to share resources such as the mentoring training pack which are delivered to our learners and to pass on any ideas/advice that might be useful about staff experiences of delivering Post-16 Citizenship. For more information see also the City College Norwich leaflet on post-16 citizenship provision.
Organisation website: www.ccn.ac.uk
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