Courageous Advocacy
What is Courageous Advocacy? What is Justice and Responsibility?
The school's vision is for all children and adults to reach to achieve their best, rooted in the belief that God desires everyone to fulfil their capabilities.
"Courageous advocacy means speaking up for what is right and fair, even when it might be hard or scary. It's standing up for someone who needs help, like a friend who is being bullied, or taking action to change things that are important, like protecting our environment or helping people who are less fortunate. It's about being brave, using our voices, and taking action to make the world a better place for everyone."
How is the school vision creating a culture of justice and responsibility?
- Not just Courageous advocacy (CA)
- Not just agents of change
- Nor just political activism
- Not just fundraising
- It is about an active culture of justice and responsibility (J&R) in broad sense
- So CA J&R: is enabling children to see in a small way and to understand something of the kingdom of God – a community where each one is loved and cared for, and in which one loves and cares for others. This is expressed through justice, responsibility, care for people and care for creation
- CA J&R in the curriculum
- Children taught to articulate their views and are confident to share their ideas. This develops them now and in the future
- Vision gives rise to outward looking culture of hope, dignity, respect
When children are courageous advocates, they:
- Are keen to find out about an inequality that is affecting people.
- Want to find out more about the situation,
- Need to do something to help and something that makes a difference,
- Challenge and ask themselves:
- I really want to do something,
- I want to understand in detail the situation,
- I want to bring a positive change that makes a difference because I want the situation to vastly improve.
- Children:
- Challenge injustice
- Look at “why”
- Want change
- Speak out
- Know more
- Give Help
- Take action
- Be brave
- Make a change for good
- Make a difference
We are on our journey for children and adults to be courageous advocates. Look at our website.
Where in our curriculum is Courageous Advocacy, Justice and Responsibility is taught,
here are some examples.
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Whole school | Termly assemblies on what it means to be a courageous advocate. Children who are taking on courageous advocacy justice and responsibility projects talk to children in collective worship School council
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Reception | Learning to be responsible for their belonging and school resources
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Year 1 | PSHE – responsibility and right/wrong actions. RE – children learn to be responsible for environment
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Year 2 | Literacy – caring for our earth and environment PSHE rights and responsibilities of a child
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Year 3 | Harvest festival collective worship and donation station organised for local food bank
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Year 4 | Varmints – English – themes of environmentalism and resistance when others are causing damage
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Year 5 | Children identify chances through their year 5 special opportunities program. Library monitors reading 1:1 and telling/reading stories – everyone has the right to read and responsibility to help. Poppies Red Nose Day (Life skills)
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Year 6 | HT Award Year 6 children come and talk to Mrs Davis, Headteacher, about ideas.
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Opportunity in the community | Any work from parents on courageous advocacy |
Opportunity from St Mary’s | Vicar talks about the work they do Congregation members talk to children |
Opportunity for next year |
A link to RE week / day for the school to find out about one charity and to see what the children then suggest. |
Below are some amazing examples of courageous advocacy.
