Creating a Glow & Games Space

Students at Lewisham College launch Glow & Games space in their student hub

Young people participating in our Get on Track for Employment progamme in Lewisham, funded by KKR and supported by Trust athlete mentor and Commonwealth gold medalist fencer, Claire Bennett, recently delivered their social action project.

The group decided to create a 'Glow & Games' space in their student Hub area at the college to help encourage more women and girls to utilise this space. To date, only boys have been using the space at lunchtimes and, recognising this inequality, the group of young men and women used their social action budget to bring in items which would make the space more welcoming and inclusive for everyone. 

 They also pitched this idea to the Principal who fully backed it and agreed to offer financial support from the college for cupcakes for the event, as well as new sofas for the room. This was a brilliant achievement, being a first for the college, and is a testament to the group’s influencing and negotiating skills, which they have been working hard on!

Claire said of the group: “They have grown so much in confidence doing this social action project and the skills that they are developing will support them in their lives beyond College and in the world of work.”

The group spent time looking at what sort of activities would engage a wider range of students, and encourage a more diverse group of people to use the shared space. There was music playing from a student DJ, the hair and beauty students were asked to paint nails and give hand massages, and another student did make-up artist work. The group also set up and delivered a games space and created an ideas wall where students were able to share how they would like to grow and use the space moving forward. 

This has resulted in discussions starting about the College backing an event like this once a month to continue the legacy of the group’s social action project - they want to make sure that the shared space continues to be welcoming to all.

Claire was delighted with the success of the project, and proud of the group’s achievements. She said: “This was an incredible social action project that involved the whole College community and also has on-going investment and sustainability. I can't believe the positive impact it has had in such a short amount of time with the students planning this. They are exceptional students and have very bright futures ahead of them.” 

This project was funded by KKR. For more information on how your organisation can support young people to deliver positive change in their environments, contact the Trust on contact@damekellyholmestrust.org