The Importance of creative learning

A chat with Becky Mitchell, our Education Manager.

It's a quiet afternoon in the office so I decide to ask Becky, (who has been working in education for 12 years and with Actionwork for four) a few questions about why creatively educating children and young people about social issues is so important?  And how does Actionwork's work impact the community?

When I ask her why she likes working with children and young people she replies, 'working with kids allows me to inspire a new generation and actively start to effect positive change in society. Lots of adults tend to have closed views or be a bit narrow minded when approaching new concepts or ideas and are therefore are not always so open to change or learning new ideas. Adults can be hesitant with accepting new views, whereas kids are blank canvases and when given the right guidance can be true positive pioneers and leaders in creating a healthier and happier society/community.'

Becky likes working for Actionwork specifically, because 'we are based in a rural area (Weston-Super-Mare) whereas most places focusing on PSHE type educational programs are based in London and can therefore be slightly detached from smaller communities. Different areas deal with different issues and Actionwork is sensitive to that; this is reflected in our workshop delivery. The team is passionate and are always conducting up to date research to ensure they give the best and most accurate information to really make a difference. With cyberbullying and technology changing on almost a day to day basis, having the most recent knowledge is crucial in delivering the best workshops.
    The Actionwork team interact with individuals and teach them how to use their voice in a positive way. In a society where social media is massively popular and users are getting younger, it is crucial that young people are made aware of how to be a positive influence online and also that they have the right to use their voice in such a way that they can provoke positive change and be a 'power for good'.
 The workshops Actionwork deliver are all tailored for the individual school's needs and the teams ensure that each school's issues are dealt with with respect and integrity. After all, just like with children, each school is different. The team go back to basics, identifying what bullying actually is (and what it is not), in order to really make sure that everyone understands the sensitive subjects we are dealing with and that they are all on the same page, then we expand on the themes further, taking into account the young people's ideas. Actionwork's approach is about getting young people's views and guiding them in a proactive way.'

'Creative workshops are so important for young people, it gives them a way to express their emotions whilst also creating a fun, casual and non-judgmental atmosphere in which to share their views. It gives them a space in which they feel they can use their voice to express their opinions about certain issues they/or someone they know may be dealing with. By mentoring children and adults alike, Actionwork creates a strong foundation for a positive and supportive community, and encourages people to pass on the skills they've learnt. Not only this but the use of drama games and techniques means that kids can actively engage in learning rather than passively listening; this makes a nice change from standard lessons, meaning that our work really stands out in young people's minds.'

Actionwork went to a school recently to run a two-day cyber mentor training workshop. Here are some of the things the kids said about their experience:

'Chris and Becky: I would like to say a really big thank you for giving me this opportunity. I have been cyber bullied for a long time, hearing the speech and tips you have given me, i have become stronger and caught my power I thought I never had. I'm looking forward to be able to be a cyber mentor. Thank you for helping find my smile back' - Sam

'Thank you for taking up your time to come to our school. You have given me the opportunity to become confident, and I have found my voice . I am now looking forward to help other people and make them feel better, because it will it will then make me feel better' - Mia

'Thank you so much for coming into school and opening a new door to tackling bullying. I never new there were so many aspects to bullying and I now know how to tackle nearly all of them' - Tom

This fantastic feedback from the students shows the clear, lasting impression creative workshops had, in educating about Bullying and cyber-bullying. It also illuminates the empowerment and confidence that has been gained, through the medium of fun and games, with theatre exercises like 'Blind car' '7 Up' and 'Colombian Hypnosis' all teaching lessons on Power, confidence and trust. This is a testament to the importance of creative learning in main stream education.

Actionwork