Hidden Heroes Video
Young people identify everyday people in their lives who are kind and compassionate and inspiring role models for them - these are the hidden heroes.
Young people identify people in their lives who are ‘hidden heroes’ – those people who go the extra mile every day and expect nothing in return, never seeking accolades.
In this video, the young people are face-to-face with their hidden heroes so that they can tell them what makes them extra special. The hidden heroes then respond.
These hidden heroes are all role models in their own right, showing the young people that they too can make a positive difference in the world and enrich others’ lives.
Ideas on how you can embed Youth Social Action within the Key stage 2 curriculum
Exploring the 5-step process through questioning why? what? how? when? and now what?
Background information on teaching young people about creating and developing healthy habits This can support the basis of teaching young people about social action.
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.
Refers to activities that young people do to make a positive difference to others while developing key skills and attributes and having fun. YSA can take place in various contexts (i.e. at home, schools, youth clubs etc) and can include volunteering, fundraising, campaigning or supporting peers. We believe social action can play an essential role: in young lives, the success of a school, the local community or more.
Our Resource Hub aims to act as a Youth Social Action search engine, offering tailored results to inspire and guide. The hub hosts a wide variety of resources, including our own Youth Social Action Toolkit, case studies, research reports, and helpful resources from other reputable organisations in the sector.
Our Resource Hub aims to act as a Youth Social Action search engine, offering tailored results to inspire and guide. The hub hosts a wide variety of resources, including our own Youth Social Action Toolkit, case studies, research reports, and helpful resources from other reputable organisations in the sector.
To find appropriate resources, use the filter feature to select the relevant options. You can filter by key stage (1-5), YSA theme (e.g. poverty), or a particular skill (e.g. communication). You can also filter by resource owner (Ormiston Trust or external organisation) and resource type, such as lesson plans. If you know what you are looking for, you can use the search bar.
To save or download resources, please sign up for a free account. In your user area, you can organise your saved items for quick and easy access. On the resource results page, you can save or download multiple resource quickly by using the tickbox feature.
Our Youth Social Action Toolkit has been carefully developed by industry professionals with input from young people to guide school leaders, support staff, and young people through a Youth Social Action project. Our curriculum guides clearly outline how YSA can be integrated into the curriculum of schools with limited time.
We don’t gatekeep – by sharing our sector knowledge and resources, we aim to enrich the lives of all young people by fostering skills development, improving agency and wellbeing, and promoting active citizenship.
The first step of the YSA process is to be inspired by an issue you care about! Check out our inspirational case studies on what you could do!
The second step of the YSA process is to explore your options! You‘ll need to research the issue that inspired you to take action to understand how you can help.
Ready to start planning your project? Access our Youth Social Action Toolkit here.
The third step of the YSA process is to plan your project! Lucky for you, we have a Project Planning Template for that.
The fourth step of the YSA process is to carry out your plan! This is when the physical activities involved like fundraising, campaigning, and volunteering kick off.
The fifth and final step of the YSA process is to reflect! Looking back at your plan, did you achieve your aims? What went well and what didn’t go so well? Can you sustain your project? Or did you take steps to ensure further projects aren’t needed?