Students from Leicester came together this week to continue the Be the Change programme sponsored by Hastings Direct, in partnership with LoveLocalJobs.com and humanutopia.

Meeting at the Leicester Tigers, year 9 students from Manor High School, The Market Bosworth School, Rushey Mead Academy, Lutterworth High School, Welland Park Academy, The Roundhill Academy and Brockington College became ‘Heroes’ to year 5 and 6 children from Inglehurst Junior School, St Peters CofE Primary School and Danemill Junior School. Together they followed an exploration into the development of life skills such as communicating with others, working within groups and understanding the effect of behaviour.

Tackling issues that asked the students to push themselves out of their comfort zones, the 13 and 14 year olds were encouraged to mix with peers they would not usually choose to interact with. They were encouraged to make conversation with the adult business mentors and explore the benefits of taking these skills forward into their working life, as well as the importance to adopt them in their personal lives.

Jo Parfitt, Head of Student Services, The Roundhill Academy said, “Be the Change has been very valuable for our students. We’ve seen them being pushed out of their comfort zones and challenged within a ‘safe’ environment. There were some students who were a bit reluctant to attend the day, but as the day progressed, they became more positive and engaged with the activities. The presentations were appropriately lively, interactive and pitched at the right level for the age of the students.

Ann Whetton, Inclusion Mentor SEND, Brockington College added, ‘Be the Change has had an impact on pupils behaviours in school and encourages them to make decisions for the future by making changes now."

Jay Wootten, Community Relations Manager, Hastings Direct said, “It was testament to both the students and teachers to see the maturity of the pupils from the Leicester schools at the Be the Change event. They all came together to mentor and help each other in the education journey that lays ahead of them.”

Be the Change aims to raise the aspirations of year 9 students (aged 13-14), helping them to remove barriers that may make them disengaged at school and provide them with life skills to take into the future.
Speaking directly to the students throughout the day, Graham Moore, Co-founder, humanutopia reflected, “The Be the Change Heroes event for Leicester was an amazing day. It was great to see the positive attitude and maturity of the year 9 students from all the Leicester schools as they conducted themselves with dignity and a sense of pride in who they are. They showed responsibility and trust beyond their years when the students from the primary schools joined them. The business volunteers from Hastings Direct again offered trusted guidance and support to the young people and they should be proud of the difference they are making.”

Rosanna Farrar, Head of Partnerships and Events, LoveLocalJobs.com said, "We are extremely proud of our partnership with Hastings Direct and the way in which they have embraced our Be the Change programme. They work with us to guarantee the maximum positive impact on local students, whilst offering their employees this unique chance to give back to the local community and to grow and develop on both a personal and professional level.”

Hastings Direct Press Officer: Natalie Sadlier, Tel: 01424 735 735 extn. 8225, pr@hastingsdirect.com

IMAGES ON REQUEST: For more information on Be the Change – visit http://about.lovelocaljobs.com/portfolio-item/be-the-change/

About Hastings Direct
Hastings Direct is a fast growing, agile, digitally focused general insurance provider to the UK market, with 2.2 million customers and employing over 2,700 colleagues at sites in Bexhill, Leicester and Newmarket.
We have built our business by championing the customer by providing refreshingly straightforward service and products and offer car, motorcycle, van and home insurance directly to the public.
Hastings Direct is a trading name of Hastings Insurance Services Limited, the UK trading subsidiary of Hastings Group Holdings plc, which also trades via “People’s Choice” and “insurePink”.

About LoveLocalJobs.com
LoveLocalJobs.com has an award winning family of regional job boards in Sussex and Surrey. It works proactively to link businesses, universities, colleges and schools, public sector, charities and community groups and other organisations to promote and create local employment opportunities in the South East, whilst also providing much needed careers, information, advice and guidance to local businesses and job-seekers alike.

About Humanutopia
Humanutopia is a social business that creates and runs inspirational courses in schools for students and staff. Their courses are based on personal, social and workplace skills development, and improve the hope, confidence, happiness, relationships, and employability of participating students. Over the last 11 years humanutopia have worked with over 200,000 young people, 200 schools, 25,000 adults and 20,000 heroes.