News & Stories

‘Empowered’, ‘happy’ and ‘selfless’ are just a few of the words used by Year 7 and 8 students from Beauchamps High School in Essex to describe how their Transform Our World projects have made them feel. Over the past ten weeks, they have dedicated their lunchtimes to carrying out their own social and environmental projects for the benefit of their school.

After exploring their compassionate values and local and global issues, the group were particularly interested in boosting biodiversity, with suggestions for building bug hotels, putting up bird homes and planting wildflowers. The decision was made to plant wildflowers with the added benefit to all students of brightening up the school grounds. They also got creative, decorating bird boxes with nature-themed designs.

Discussion with their teacher, Mrs Bailey (Head of Geography) led to a homework task being set in Geography, where students were challenged to create their own bug hotels over the half term. The response was fantastic, with some impressive entries brought into school. There are plans in September for the school’s site team to install the bug hotels and bird boxes around the school grounds.

In addition, the students discussed the idea of fundraisers and donating to charity. They came up with lots of ideas, including cake sales and sports events, but settled on selling ‘grow your own sunflower’ kits – a perfect fit with their biodiversity theme. Not only would it encourage other students to learn about growing plants, but it would also help bring a little colour and happiness to their homes.

The students took charge of the project from start to finish, designing posters to advertise the day, making the kits themselves and running the event. Each kit included a plant pot, compost disc, sunflower seeds, a plant label and a little ‘sweet treat’ - something Lara in Year 8 thought would encourage more interest.

After researching local charities, the group chose to donate the money raised to Essex Wildlife Trust, who sent a message of thanks to the students:

“Dear Beauchamps Year 7's and 8's, I have been informed that you have been selling 'grow your own sunflower kits' to raise money for Essex Wildlife Trust. I would like to express true pride and gratitude to those who have made this effort for such a great cause. To hear that you have taken your own time to do this is truly uplifting and those who have made these efforts should be very proud of themselves. Raising money for a charity is a very noble cause and we are delighted to hear that you have selected Essex Wildlife Trust as your chosen charity. I really hope your sunflower kits sell well at school and I hope you have a great summer holidays too. Feel free to pop along to Hanningfield or our surrounding areas this summer as well! Best of luck guys!”

They got the whole school community involved in their fundraising, with students stopping by to ask questions and support the cause, raising £75 in total. Some even donated money without taking a kit which was a powerful reminder of how caring and thoughtful young people are. 

Mrs Bailey has shared that there are already exciting plans for next year. The school is hoping to plant more trees as part of the ‘£1 for 1 tree’ initiative in November and are planning a school competition, asking students to design a bag to promote fairtrade. The winning design will be printed onto fairtrade cotton tote bags, which will be sold to raise money for charity. Reflecting on the Transform Our World programme, Mrs Bailey said,

“The biggest take from the whole programme was the fact that I now feel equipped to continue supporting students to take action. From Honor's help I have now organised a different topic each school half term to coincide with different awareness days through the year - everything from fair trade fortnight to world oceans day.”

It’s been brilliant to see the passion and teamwork from Beauchamps students involved in the Transform Our World programme. Not only have they made a positive impact on their school and wider community, but they’ve also formed new friendships and worked together as a team every step of the way. They are keen to form a club next year, where they are currently in talks about what to call it.

Well done to you all, you have shown true compassion and selflessness. Now go and enjoy your summer holidays!  

Beauchamps High School is supported by Honor Hayes, Transform Our World Youth Engagement Practitioner for Essex, supported by #iwillfund and National Lottery Community Fund.

If you’d like to support young people in your school to take action, download our Youth Social Action handbook.