School Students Celebrate Success at Awards Ceremony
The achievements of 100 students from Brighton schools were celebrated at an awards ceremony on Thursday 2nd May at Brighton i360.
The event was the finale to the Be the Change programme, an initiative co-founded by Graham Moore of metamoorephosis and Gary Peters of LoveLocalJobs.com, which aims to boost the aspirations and job prospects of young people aged between 13 and 14. Over the last six months the students have been taking part in a series of activities designed to improve hope, happiness, confidence, relationships, to change negative behaviour and to introduce them to career opportunities.
The students were congratulated and awarded certificates by the volunteer business guides alongside the Be the Change team. As the students received certificates and Be the Change ribbons, they applauded each other and reflected on the past six months. Many students stood in front of the gathered audience and revealed their feelings about moving forward with the skills they have learnt.
Vic Miller, VP of Global Comms at Brandwatch said: "It has been a real pleasure to work with the students, see them grow and make positive plans for the future. The change in their confidence and how open they have been to making changes is an inspiration."
Donna Ward, Detective Inspector from Sussex police said: “Over the last few months it has been truly inspirational to watch the positive change in those who have completed this programme. As well as the positive impact on the young people, I know that our business guides have also found the experience extremely enriching.”
Co-founder, Graham Moore of metamoorephosis said: “It has been an incredible journey not just for these amazing young people, but for everyone who has been involved – the teachers, the business volunteers and ourselves. Over the last few months we have been inspired by the way in which the students have engaged with us and their peers and as a result have become happier, more confident in their abilities and more excited about their futures.”
The students come from eight secondary schools in the area: PACA, Varndean, Blatchington Mill, Hove Park School, Longhill High School, Kings School, Dorothy Stringer and Cardinal Newman.
Be the Change Brighton, founded by Graham Moore of metamoorephosis and LoveLocalJobs.com, has been sponsored by Brandwatch (headline sponsor), Sussex Police (headline sponsor), American Express, Legal and General, Focus Group and Brighton & Hove City Council.