Over the last couple of months I have been travelling regularly to North Swindon Library to meet with some young people from the Swindon Underground Youth Centre as part of our ongoing work as regional champion, South West Region, for the British Library and Museums, Libraries and Archives Council funded project called Campaign Make an Impact. Readers may recall from earlier blogs that this is a scheme where we are using history to inspire young people into active citizenship. Young people research historical campaigns and use the techniques they have learned to create their own modern campaign on issues important to them.

Members of the Swindon Underground Youth Centre

It has been a privilege to work with some wonderful and talented young people. The participants are hoping to create a positive image of young people by helping children avoid being led into trouble by their peers through a new campaign called “Be What You Wanna Be.”

14 year old Jacoub Bonner of Isambard School in Swindon and 15 year old Jamie Carter of Warneford School in Highworth had the initial idea. They decided to help raise awareness of the problems of peer pressure, designing a logo and leaflets, printing hoodies and badges, writing press releases and, if that wasn’t enough, managing their own budget!

On Tuesday 24^th May, with the help of other young people, they launched their Campaign at fantastic event in the Swindon Underground Youth Centre. It included an accomplished presentation by Jacoub and Jamie and a captivating drama sketch from young people at Warneford School. This was all written and produced by the young people involved. The audience included Cllr David Renard, Swindon Borough Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services; and representatives from Wiltshire Police, Swindon Youth Service, Swindon Library Service and Haydon Wick Parish Council. Everyone was keen to help the young people take their campaign into schools and talk to children about the dangers of peer pressure, especially year six primary and year seven secondary students.

Jacoub and Jamie said “We created the slogan ‘Be What You Wanna Be’ as we thought it summed up the message we want to give to children, especially as they move from primary to secondary school. Growing up in Swindon we have experienced peer pressure and know how easily some of your peers can put you under pressure to do things you know are wrong and get you into trouble. Our message is that it is ok to say no to peer pressure and there are a lot more positive and interesting things you can do instead. Because we are young and have been in this situation ourselves, we think that children will listen to us and the other young people who have joined our campaign.”

The new logo

The success of the young people’s work demonstrates how the History Centre is finding innovative ways to use some of our archive collections to inspire young people.

The ‘Campaign! Make an Impact’ project has been led by our Education Officer Laurel Miller and we have helped manage projects in Cornwall and Bath, as well as running four local projects ourselves at Wiltshire College in Chippenham, St Joseph’s School in Swindon, Ridgeway School in Wroughton and, of course,  the Swindon Underground Youth Centre.  A further project in Plymouth is planned for September.  More information can be found on http://www.bl.uk/learning/citizenship/campaign/campaignhome.html . There is also a video of work Laurel has previously undertaken with some Swindon Schools on our website http://www.wshc.eu/education/citizenship.html Terry Bracher

If you have enjoyed this article, the following entries may also be of interest:

Campaign Make an Impact!


Wiltshire's Treasures Photographed