Youth Social Action Resource Hub

Did you know that it takes 10–20 years for a plastic bag to break down and 450 years for a plastic bottle to do so?
  Project Pristine is a youth-led litter picking scheme in which volunteers travel to beaches and collect litter in rubbish bags. There are three core aims: to protect marine life, clean beaches, and explore the ocean, as well as raise awareness about the issue. Other key partners were involved who helped with publicity and schemes like ‘Adopt a Spot’ where Project Pristine adopted and committed to regularly cleaning a beach with one of the worst litter problems.  

This document provides insights on using the 5-step process to support thinking in Youth Social Action.

An overview of all the resources available from the toolkit

This curriculum map provides links to integrate the topic of Healthy Habits within the National Curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4. - It can be read to obtain an overview of the connections made with the National Curriculum. - It can also inform the planning of activities that will teach social action skills or inform future social action planning.

The resources below support the teaching of the skills needed so young people can carry out their social action projects on health. Teacher Resource: Teaching Youth Social Action - Lesson 1: What does it mean to be healthy? (PowerPoint & PDF) - To demonstrate the benefit of participating in a group mindfulness session. - Lesson 2: When is food giving me energy? (PowerPoint & PDF) - To learn about healthy food, including fruits and vegetables. - Lessons 3&4: What can my body do with energy? (PowerPoint & PDF) - To identify the role of energy in my body. & To demonstrate an understanding of how to remain healthy.

Ideas on how you can embed Youth Social Action within the Key stage 2 curriculum

This guide on healthy habits focuses on the importance of being healthy. It maps opportunities as to when healthy habits can be delivered across the national curriculum with suggested activities; it includes background reading and four lesson plans that can be used to deliver the topic of being healthy as part of the inspire and inform steps of the Youth Social Action Process. Young people should be able to use this learning to plan, act and reflect on Social Action projects that are important to them. This guide can be read to obtain an overview of the connections made with the National Curriculum. It can also inform the planning of activities that will teach social action skills or inform future social action planning.

Background information on teaching young people about creating and developing healthy habits. This can support teaching young people about social action.