“Hoodies can be Goodies”, “Think Twice, Think Positive”, “Take off your cover”, were just some of the campaign slogans created by Swindon students developing their own campaigns having been inspired by the example of the Suffragettes, Anti-slavery campaign or the campaign to improve Public Health.

At work on the project

Students at St Joseph’s Catholic College learned about the appalling conditions in Swindon in the 1850s and how public health campaigns helped to bring clean water and proper sewers. They then investigated modern day campaigning techniques before developing their own campaigns challenging the media stereotype of teenagers as vandals and criminals. Staff from the History Centre and school governor, Stan Pajak, had the difficult job of judging a winner from the excellent presentations. The students used rap, poems, posters, leaflets and some great slogans to get their message across. The winning slogan was “You tell us not to judge a race, so why would you judge a younger face?”. To find out more, please 'read more'..

 
Work in progress at St Joseph’s Catholic College

Students from St Joseph’s Catholic College presenting their work

Students from all year groups at The Ridgeway School worked on a range of campaigns, including cuts to the shopmobility programme, Swindon young carers, air brushing of magazine photos and environment issues. The best presentations from each class were presented at a celebration event where the local press turned out in force to take photographs and record interviews. Create Studios in Swindon filmed the work at both schools and the film will soon be available to view on this website and hopefully on the Big Screen in Swindon.

Filming Taking Place

We are now working with a couple of youth groups in Wiltshire using history to inspire more young people into active citizenship.

One of the Ridgeway School Campaigns

For more on Campaign! Make an Impact take a look at the British Library website, www.bl.uk/campaign

Campaign! Make an Impact is being rolled-out by the British Library and MLA Council working partnership over 2009-2011. It is a national programme funded through the DCMS/DfE Strategic Commissioning Programme. Shortlisted for the Museum and Heritage Awards best Education Initiative 2010.