Since September three Year 13 students, Zoe Maxwell, Lucy Wallace and Natalia Szczepansta have participated in Barnardo’s Leading Change programme and recently completed their 6 month leadership training course by organising 3 events for children in their community. Events included: a Duvet Day raising awareness of mental health issues for Year 8s; a Community Panel with guests from PSNI, Lighthouse and TAMHI; and a Transition-Themed Treasure Hunt for P7 pupils at St. Bernard’s Primary School (Glengormley) and Currie Primary School.

Participating schools:
Belfast Royal Academy, Hazelwood Integrated College, St. Malachy’s College, Belfast Boys Model School, Belfast Model School for Girls, Dominican College and Blessed Trinity College.

The aims of the Leading Change Project are:

• To increase young people’s confidence in their role as young leaders.
• To create opportunities for young people to take on leadership roles within their schools and across their communities.
• To increase accessibility of school facilities and encourage the sharing of spaces and resources between schools.
• To improve young people’s relationships – between school and their wider community.