In the Commission's recommendations around citizenship education, we were also pleased to see the recommendation that citizenship become statutory in the primary curriculum, a measure we have long argued for and that has previously been supported by the Goldsmith Review.

Beyond citizenship education in schools, the report places much emphasis on increased opportunities for young people to be involved with school governing boards and national, regional and local public bodies and increased opportunities for volunteering. The Commission also acknowledges that young people are communicating in new and different ways and calls on the Government to establish a New Media Taskforce to set out good practice for engaging with young people online.

The final report of the Commission and its other publications can be downloaded from the YCC's website.

"...investigations and celebrations by schools of pupils' histories and their community's roots and of the national and global links that they can make." - Sir Keith Ajegbo

Who do we think we are? Week  runs from 22nd to 28th June. The Who Do We Think We Are? project encourages primary and secondary school students to explore their own identities, as well as those of others, and the diversity and citizenship in their schools, local communities and nationally.

It helps them to consider what makes us who we are, is it: Where we were born? Where our parents came from? Where we live? Our communities? Our faith and beliefs? Our profession? Many schools have explored these questions through visiting local places of worship or civic buildings and by holding celebratory events. Some schools have also explored the geography and history of their local area and shared their findings with a school from a contrasting setting.

The WDWTWA project provides subject specific support for citizenship, geography, history and RE lessons through its website, as well as guidance for the project including learning resources, case studies and toolkits.

The project is supported by DCSF and run by a partnership which includes the Citizenship Foundation as well as the following subject bodies: Association for Citizenship Teaching, Historical Association and the Royal Geographical Society, alongside key stakeholders including the Schools Linking Network.

Tony Breslin, CEO at the Citizenship Foundation said:

"Addressing issues of identity and diversity is among the most vital of tasks facing those charged with delivering the new citizenship curriculum - and it poses special challenges for those who have had little or no training to do so. The ‘Who Do We Think We Are?' website will make a considerable difference to teacher confidence levels. The Citizenship Foundation is delighted to be involved in this important project."

Dr Rita Gardner, Director Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), said of the project,

"Young people have a keen eye for their own identity and what it means to belong. Through Who Do We Think We Are? we will be involving young people in the wider discussion of what it means to live in Britain today. Indeed, such discussions have long been a key strand of cutting edge geographical research and geography in schools is ideally placed to help young people better understand the make up of their local communities and nature of our national identity."

Rebecca Sullivan CEO of the Historical Association added,

"We carry many identities, many stories. Our personal and family journeys might be made over distances or routed in one locality; they encompass class and gender, education and life experiences. Knowing some History can help us understand these complex experiences and WDWTWA provides an excellent and engaging way to explore these experiences and fits it into a wider understanding."

Further information about the Who Do We Think We Are? Week can be obtained by emailing the project officer at wdwtwa@rgs.org.

The training is offered in many different formats to ensure it is relevant, effective and helpful to teachers. There are general seminars and workshops on Citizenship in addition to training programs based on individual Citizenship Foundation projects. These programs explain in detail how each Citizenship Foundation project works and provide clear guidance on how to use the accompanying resources (i.e. websites, packs and pamphlets); this could be via a 15 minute presentation demonstrating a website or a full day training session with examples of practical activities which could be used in lessons. The Go Givers team also provides training around generic child-centred teaching techniques and activities in relation to the active citizenship project, the Make a Difference Challenge. 

The National Youth Parliament competition project offers informative training sessions that take place in the Houses of Parliament. These include working with the Parliament Education Service to educate teachers about various Parliament and Government activities, as well as taking them, step-by-step, through the competition and enabling them to understand the processes involved in parliamentary debating.

This training does not just reach teachers of Citizenship, but also Drama, English, Geography Enterprise, PSHE, Business Studies and Economics teachers, and the Go Givers team train Primary school teachers who teach all curriculum subjects. Often the teachers trained are multi-disciplinary as many schools do not have a staff member who specialises in Citizenship and this is often the reason that they request the additional support of teacher training. The Citizenship Foundation also works with Pupil Referral Units (PRUS), through the Citizenship Challenge Project, and here most teachers teach up to six or seven subjects of which Citizenship is just one.

Some projects have Outreach Managers who work alongside and support teachers in the classroom. They train teachers in schools, ITT colleges/universities, supply agencies and at LEA meetings/events. In addition, the Youth Act program provides direct training to teachers and other professionals, such as youth workers and police officers, who work with young people. 

If you would like more information on the training that Citizenship Foundation projects offer to teachers and other professionals please contact Emma Doyle at the Citizenship Foundation.

The deadline for applications has been extended to 22 June.

More about NBYL internships: www.nbyl.org.uk/internships.

It helps them to consider what makes us who we are, is it: Where we were born? Where our parents came from? Where we live? Our communities? Our faith and beliefs? Our profession? Many schools have explored these questions through visiting local places of worship or civic buildings and by holding celebratory events. Some schools have also explored the geography and history of their local area and shared their findings with a school from a contrasting setting.

The WDWTWA project provides subject specific support for citizenship, geography, history and RE lessons through its website, as well as guidance for the project including learning resources, case studies and toolkits.

The project is supported by DCSF and run by a partnership which includes the Citizenship Foundation as well as the following subject bodies: Association for Citizenship Teaching, Historical Association and the Royal Geographical Society, alongside key stakeholders including the Schools Linking Network.

Further information about the Who Do We Think We Are? Week can be obtained by emailing the project officer at wdwtwa@rgs.org.

Developed with sponsorship and in partnership with the Initiative for Learning Democracy in Europe, a project of the Network of European Foundations, "Europe and Me" gives young people the opportunity to learn about what it means to be a citizen of Europe with particular reference to the tangible benefits of enhanced rights to travel, to the same human rights across Europe and the benefits of international cooperation with regard to environmental protection, consumer protection and international aid. The resources introduce some of the practical problems facing Europe today, such as river pollution, international crime and discrimination at work and encourages young people to consider how these can be solved and the role of the European Union in this.

Through these practical examples of European cooperation, students are helped to gain a better grasp of what the EU is all about and how it works. Aimed at students who struggle to understand the EU at a more abstract level, the resource comprises brightly illustrated PowerPoint stories accompanied by a range of classroom activities, case studies, background information and practical investigations. It is aimed at young people aged 14-19. 

"Europe and Me" is free and is available in several different languages, including English, French, German and Spanish.

A full list of units includes: Environment, Law and Order, Consumer Protection, Work, Equality, Minorities and the World.

The handbook is available to download for free online.

Up to nine UK schools will be selected to win up to £1000 towards charity action at their school and attend an awards day in central London. One particularly outstanding school charity will win this year's national prize: a hands-on week supporting the work of international development charity, World Vision in India. The winning charity team will see first-hand the projects World Vision are supporting to provide education, housing and care to runaway children in Chennai, India. It is hoped that upon their return, the teenagers will be offered the chance to become ambassadors to World Vision's work for the billion people living on less than $1 per day worldwide.

The awards programme is open to all UK secondary schools who can enter this year's awards by creating their school's diary on the Giving Nation website www.g-nation.co.uk/awards. To enter the 2008-9 awards, Giving Nation is encouraging entries from UK secondary schools by July 20th 2009 when Giving Nation will bring together a panel of judges from the Citizenship Foundation and World Vision to select up to nine winners from UK secondary schools.

The opportunity will be given to the school thanks to the awards charity partnership between the Citizenship Foundation's active citizenship project Giving Nation and World Vision. The Giving Nation awards recognise and promote the actions of UK secondary schools to learn about and get involved in the work of charities through social enterprise projects (the Giving Nation Challenge), fundraising, campaigning and volunteering.

For more information visit the Giving Nation website, email felicity.tyson@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk or call 0207 566 4151 .

Below, we hear from two schools on their work to date:

Brecknock School, Camden

Campaign: Respect Lives Not Knives

Following a democratic process, children at Brecknock School in Camden decided to run a campaign against knife crime.

"Ben Kinsella was stabbed and died opposite the school in late June 2008, his death naturally was very shocking and saddening for children at this school" Anna, class teacher

The children devised a performance highlighting the impact of knife crime which was performed to parents and received a standing ovation. Local MP Frank Dobson, who also attended a performance, was quizzed on his views on knife crime.

"When you speak to grown-up people, their purpose in asking questions is to show off. But these children genuinely wanted answers because they care about knife crime." Frank Dobson MP

"It is amazing to see the children so excited about their campaign. Even the students who generally find it harder to express themselves speak passionately and articulately about how important it is to raise awareness about knife crime" Anna, class teacher

The children gained coverage in three local papers and will be performing to 9 other primary schools later this year.

Kensington School, Newham

Campaign: Sibley Grove Bridge

"It feels great to be part of this project because it will make Sibley Grove Bridge a better place" Pupil, aged 9

The children at Kensington School identified a local pedestrian bridge as a source of antisocial behaviour and bullying in the area through research which showed that other pupils, teachers, parents and local residents felt the same way.

"They care a lot about the school and the community they live in and they want their community to be a safe one where every one is proud of the area they live and go to school in. They want to make a difference." Serin, class teacher

The children have alerted the council to the problems and are planning a demonstration against bullying at the bridge. Working with architects and a graffiti artist, the children are drawing up proposals for how the bridge could be improved. Their proposals will be presented to local MP, Rt Hon Stephen Timms later this year.

"I am proud of what we are doing. I hope there will be change" Pupil, aged 9

 Other schools taking part in the ‘Make a Difference' Challenge are:

• Islington: Ashmount Primary School: Child Poverty in the UK

• Islington: St. Andrew's Primary School: Fundraising for the Rainbow Trust

• Southwark: St.George's CoE Primary School: Water in our world

• Southwark: Charlotte Sharman Primary School: The impact of HIV & Aids

• Waltham Forest: Roger Ascham Primary School: Endangered species

• Bromley: Bickley Park School: Cruelty to animals

• Lewisham: St.Matthew's Academy: Play facilities

Go-Givers is a Citizenship Foundation project for primary schools - it aims to develop responsible, caring citizens who have the skills and confidence to make a positive contribution to their communities, both locally and globally. In January 2009, Go-Givers launched the London ‘Make a Difference Challenge'; supporting children to run a campaign or social enterprise tackling an issue they care about.

www.gogivers.org

To find out more about Go-Givers and the ‘Make a Difference Challenge' please contact Shez Sutton.

To apply you need to be:

• aged 16-19
• available for three months (6 July -25 September 2009)
• enthusiastic
• keen to learn
• a team player

In return we can give you:

• an insight into both the NBYL and working in the charity sector
• a chance a make a real difference
• a hands on experience
• workplace skills
• an opportunity to develop both personally and professionally

Plus:

• travel and lunch expenses (up to £60 per week/£12 per day)
• training and networking opportunities
• supervision and support
• a reference on completion of the volunteer internship

If you fit the bill, then get involved and apply. For more information on what roles are available, how to apply and to download an application form, please visit www.nbyl.org.uk/internships.

The deadline for applications has been extended to 22 June. 

The National Body for Youth Leadership (NBYL) is a youth led programme designed to create and offer opportunities for young people to develop their leadership skills.

Mosaic is an organisation that is looking for Young Advocates. The job will involve completing a project to help Mosaic improve its practice and policy regarding young people.

Applicants must be aged between 18 and 25. The successful candidate will work for Changemakers but hosted by Mosaic.

The closing date for applications is Friday 29th May.

More about the Young Advocate post at Mosaic

The conference takes place on 9 June at the British Library in London, and costs £69 (£22 for ITT students).

Information and booking details

Places are limited so please apply early to avoid disappointment!

The Bar National Mock Trial Competition is kindly sponsored by the General Council of the Bar of England and Wales, the Faculty of Advocates, the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, the four Inns of Court and the local Bar Circuits.

All of the feedback that we receive will be used to revise and update the resources, which will be released in early 2010.

A further nine runners up were announced and are listed below:

• Daniel Schoner, Somerset
• Guy Purssell, London
• Fatema Lookmanjee, Reading
• Jamie Bylett, Sandhurst
• Laura Tester, Aldershot
• Vivek Chadha, Middlesex
• David Gregory, Woking
• Mahiban Balachandran, London
• Emily Dean, Surrey

Chance to be Chancellor entrants had to choose policies from the pre-Budget Report that they thought would best deliver economic prosperity and then justify their ‘vision' in a Budget Speech. The top policy choices amongst entrants were, in first place, launching a finance scheme to help small enterprises access loans (49%), followed by providing better financial education in secondary schools in second place (42%) and a joint third for insulating 600,000 homes under an energy saving scheme (41%) and adapting 2,000 secondary school classrooms to provide more personalised learning experiences (41%).

The Citizenship Foundation would like to thank all of those who entered Chance to be Chancellor 2009.

The poll also revealed that roughly two thirds of the young people surveyed worry about money, 41% are unaware as to the consequences of being overdrawn and only 36% say they are confident they have the skills and knowledge to manage their money in difficult times.

However, it is encouraging to see that two thirds of teenagers (70%) would like to be taught more about finance at school. The ‘My Money, My Rights' guide covers a range of issues that impact teenagers' lives, including banks and building societies, consumer law and student finance. In addition, two lesson plans have been developed alongside the guide to help teachers introduce managing money and the guide effectively into the classroom.

‘Having a grasp of our economic and financial rights and responsibilities has never been more important. It is vital to build a broader understanding of the world around us, and to lay the foundations for greater participation and better decision-making or, as we put it, effective citizenship.'

Tony Breslin, Chief Executive, Citizenship Foundation

For further information about ‘My Money, My Rights' or the survey results please contact Elly Harrowell, Project Support Officer - Paying for It.

Rushcliffe Comprehensive were awarded the prestigious Giving Nation award in October 2008 in recognition of their outstanding commitment to charity and community action at school and in their wider community. Their prize for outstanding achievement was this once in a life-time trip enabling six students and three teachers a chance to work with the RFUK in Cameroon. The aim of the trip was to stimulate the young people to become ambassadors for the important work of the RFUK and for the value of supporting the many other Third Sector organisations who serve causes both at home and abroad.

The majority of the students' seven-day trip was spent staying with and learning from the Baka people; a community of some 50,000 people currently living across Southern and Eastern Cameroon. Immersed in the Baka way of life, the teenagers were taught to fish by Baka women; were taught how the nomadic hunter-gatherers derive medicine from the threatened plant and animal life and they experienced the wealth of local culture and traditions through ceremonies, festivals and the daily activities of the community.

In true British spirit the young Brits also organised a friendly football tournament with children at a local school. On leaving the village the students presented to their hosts, and in particular to their new young friends, gifts of thanks they had personally bought and collected from their school and community in the UK and carried to Cameroon.

"The Baka people have lived in the forest for thousands of years, yet their rights to basic things like education and the land they live on are not recognised by Cameroonian law. One of the young girls we met, Aelena like lots of young Baka people had experienced bullying and even though she was passionate about becoming a teacher, the financial circumstances of her family thanks to their lack of access to land, were preventing her from achieving her dream." Bex, a student on the trip from Rushcliffe explained.

Through consultation with Baka village elders and young people, the Rainforest Foundation are sponsoring the education of sixteen young Baka girls and boys at two local schools.

Education up to seconday school age, however, is  uncommon amongst the Baka. A range of causes including school fees which the Baka can often not afford to pay, the difficulties which are presented in accessing education for people who do not have Cameroonian citizenship status (as is the case with the Baka) make accessing education difficult for the Baka. 

Through meeting young Baka people of their age and hearing of their dreams and aspirations,  the British students learnt of the urgency to protect the rights of the Baka and improve access to education.

Leaving the Baka community in Nomedjo, the students followed logging trucks on their route back to the capital. Richard John of Giving Nation who joined the students on their trip said:

"Deforestation and commercial logging thraten the Baka way of life daily and it is devastating to see these trucks piled high with trees so precious to the forest environment and the Baka but we can seek a small amount of comfort that the students from Rushcliffe will become powerful ambassadors for protecting the rainforest and the work of organizations like the Rainforest Foundation UK, educating their peers and others on the importance of protecting the lungs of the earth."

Upon their return to the Cameroon capital the students took part in a press conference and radio interviews with national and international media. This was followed by an invitation to share their experiences and insights with the British High Commissioner in Yaoundé.

Now back in the UK the students have expressed their passion and determination to build links with the Cameroonian communities they were hosted by through letter writing and an international school partnership. The group of young people also hope to drive a campaign in Nottingham and across the UK to encourage other young people to recognise the unconscious role we can play in the act of deforestation and how we might make consumer choices or lend our support for a better solution for the Rainforests of the world and the people and animals who live in them.

"Back at school I want to research and let people know about the changes they can make, like not buying furniture made from rainforest hard wood, to prevent deforestation. I want every one to know the impact their lives and needs are having on a forest and way of life thousands of miles away." Fliss Cooper, 17, explained.

Programme Director, Anna Reid, summarised the importance of the trip for Giving Nation and the Citizenship Foundation.

"The students from Rushcliffe Comprehensive are a great example of the power of young people to reshape their world through getting involved and giving to others. Giving Nation is about supporting the next generation of engaged, caring and generous citizens. We believe with more young people engaged in causes, such as these Nottingham teens with the Cameroon Rainforest, we can support better, stronger communities for us all."

Tony Breslin's letter to The Times: 'It's good to talk and stop the noisy few'

After writing to their local MP to raise their concerns, the children were delighted when Mr Dobson agreed to take part in a ‘Question Time' session at the school. Mr Dobson congratulated the school for taking a proactive approach to tackling the problem of knife crime and stayed long enough to see the children perform a dress rehearsal of an anti-knife crime play, to be staged in May.

To find out more about Go-Givers visit www.gogivers.org or email Shez.

The Nottingham teenagers were awarded the prestigious Giving Nation award in October 2008 in recognition of the outstanding charity and community action organized by the students at their secondary school and in their local community. As national winners the students have won the top Giving Nation prize: the chance to spend a week with the Rainforest Foundation UK, a charity committed to long term human rights and environmental protection.

The young activists will spend a week meeting and living amongst local indigenous Baka community in Nomedjo, Eastern Cameroon, immersed in practical lessons on plant and animal life from the hunter-gatherer people. Alongside lessons in how the Baka derive medicine and their livelihoods from the plant and over 350 animal species in the forest, honey collection, fishing and a football tournament with children at the Nomedjo village school, they will learn about the threat that deforestation and climate change pose for the livelihoods of the Baka people in the remote forest.

An important part of the students interactive experience living with the Baka will be dedicated to learning about the discrimination faced by young people from the Baka community and the Rainforest Foundation's work to support Baka children to access education in the region. The Baka are one of four pygmy groups indigenous to the Cameroon rainforest, but despite living in the forest for thousands of years, like the Bakola, Bedzang and Bagyeli 'Pygmy' peoples, they are still denied basic rights of citizenship and their use of the forest is not recognised in Cameroonian law. Commercial forestry and deforestation pose a serious threat to the livelihoods of the Baka.

Upon their return to the capital, the students will be invited to present what they have witnessed in the forest to local and international media at a special press conference at the British High Commission.

Their field trip to the remotest region of the rainforest, interaction with the Baka and the press conference in Yaoundé will prepare the Nottingham for their roles as youth ambassadors for RFUK and the world's rainforests; carrying the message of the need to protect the world's rainforests from deforestation and climate change to other young people, schools and communities upon their return UK.

"Helping people is really important to me and I really enjoy talking to people about the causes I feel strongly about, I truly think that through our actions and the amazing experiences that await us in Cameroon we can show people how easy and important it is to help others and care about the environment." Stevie Greaves, aged 13 from the Rushcliffe Comprehensive School team explained.

The Rushcliffe student team first demonstrated their potential as champions for local and global causes when they entered the Giving Nation Awards in July 2008. To enter the student charity team recorded all the fundraising, campaigning, and volunteering actions that had been organized entirely by students in school and the local community throughout the 2008-9 academic year.

Competing against 91 entries from schools around the U.K. on the Giving Nation website, the Nottingham students entry documented over 200 charity team including a campaign set up by students to lobby local residents to donate their mobile phones to save 169 square feet of rainforest and inviting MP Kenneth Clarke to a debate with the school's Citizenship Club on whether the UK should apologise for the slave trade to be broadcast on the BBC East politics show.

Bex Bailey, aged 17, from the winning team explained:

"At Rushcliffe School Citizenship Club we are lucky to have access to education and the support to raise money for charities; we want to use that opportunity to help others and inspire others to do the same. Our work as a charity team is really important to us so being recognised for it is simply a brilliant bonus and going to the rainforest has been a lifelong dream for me, so this is literally a dream come true!"

The student team return to the U.K on Thursday 23rd April. For a full press release, interviews, footage and photos please contact the Giving Nation Team.

Giving Nation (G-Nation), a project of the Citizenship Foundation that supports and promotes young people's learning and engagement in charitable activity, volunteering, social enterprise and campaigning through free teaching resources, the Giving Nation Challenge, the Giving Nation online awards programme and a website for young people and schools: www.g-nation.co.uk.

As the Foundation celebrates its 20th year, this is an exciting time to join us and a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to develop the role.

Prospective candidates must complete an application and equal opportunities form. The application form, job description and related documents can be obtained by contacting Oliver Debono on 020 7566 4141 or by emailing info@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk or by clicking the links below:

Application Guidance (pdf)

Job Description (pdf)

Application Form (Word)

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (Word)

The closing date for applications is Monday, 4 May at 5.00pm.  Interviews will take place on the 19th and 21st of May. 

As BMT Project Officer, you will have overall responsibility for preparing and running the annual cycle of the competition. You will also have responsibility for developing the competition in line with the aims of the Foundation.

Application is by application form and covering letter. The application form and related documents can be obtained by contacting Oliver Debono on 020 7566 4141 or by emailing info@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk or by clicking the links below:

Application Guidance (pdf)

Job Description (pdf)

Application Form (Word)

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (Word)

The deadline for application is Friday 1st May 2009. Interviews will be held during the week beginning Monday 11th May 2009.

A whole day of CPD for only £59/69 (£22 for ITT students) thanks to partnership with the British Library and sponsorship from the DCSF.

For full details visit ACT's website.

• Research on key policy areas;

• Writing the Citizenship Foundation's e-newsletter;

• Providing administrative and general support.

We are an independent educational and participation charity that aims to empower individuals to engage in the wider community and are currently contributing to policy debates across the political spectrum. As the Foundation celebrates its 20th year, this is an exciting time to get involved with us.

The intern will be based in the Citizenship Foundation office in London for three months, starting March 2009. Full or part time hours will be considered.

The deadline for applications is 10.00am, 2 March 2009.

Interested applicants should email a CV and cover letter (of no more than one page) to Molly Kearney at molly.kearney@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk.

After two closely fought rounds, Kingsmead School was declared the winner. All of the participants will go on to take part in the local heats in March. Of the competition, one teacher who participated said that it was ‘extremely valuable for pupils to develop confidence and knowledge'.

The team of secondary students are national winners of the 2008 Giving Nation awards for outstanding charity and community action. Their prize is the educational trip, which will see them spend seven days learning about life in the forest, meeting pygmy children, taking part in traditional celebrations and learning how the forest is an essential source of medication, livelihood and food. Upon their return, they will play the role of youth ambassadors to the Rainforest Foundation, using their experiences to carry the message to young people and the world that protecting the rainforest, the lungs of the Earth, is a responsibility for one and all.

The students, all members of the school’s Citizenship Club, were selected as national winners from over 90 UK secondary schools who entered the awards by writing diaries of their school’s charity and community action on the Giving Nation website. Rushcliffe School’s award-winning diary documented over 200 actions organised by the students including: saving 169 square feet of rainforest by donating mobile phones, petitioning the local community on the arms trade and holding a TV debate with MP Kenneth Clarke on whether the U.K should apologise for the slave trade.

On winning the award Bex Bailey, 17, of Rushcliffe’s charity team commented:

“At Rushcliffe School Citizenship Club we all work really hard to try and make a difference to the world. Our work as a charity team is really important to us so being recognised for it is simply a brilliant bonus.  It has been a lifelong dream for me to go to the rainforest, so this is literally a dream come true!”

For more information please contact Felicity Tyson on felicity.tyson@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk or 0207 566 4151. 

For more information visit the Giving Nation website, email felicity.tyson@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk or call 0207 566 4151.

As part of this project, we are running two free seminars for teachers, which will include contributions towards the cost of supply cover. The first will look at citizenship education, the Citizenship Challenge resources, accreditation and offer an opportunity for sharing teaching ideas. Participants will then trial the resources with their own students, feeding back their comments, ideas and adaptations at the second seminar. We will use the feedback we receive to develop and extend them. The project will also prepare a report for DCSF and policy makers with recommendations as to how citizenship in these settings can be supported and strengthened.

There are three opportunities for you to attend the first seminar:

• Monday 2nd March 2009, Thistle Hotel Euston, London

• Monday 9th March 2009, Thistle Hotel Manchester

• Wednesday 11th March 2009, Thistle Hotel Euston, London

The second seminars will take place in late June/early July 2009. All attendees of the first seminar will be expected to come to this second event.

For more information and to book a place please contact Julie Nakhimoff on 020 7566 5032 or julie.nakhimoff@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk.

It provides concise, easy to use advice on everything from what to do if you get into debt to avoiding internet scams. The guide is accompanied by 2 specially written lesson plans (mapped on to the PSHE and Citizenship curricula at Key Stage 4) to encourage teachers to use My Money, My Rights in the classroom.

The Speaker’s Conference was established by the House of Commons to look into the reasons why there are not more women, disabled people and people from ethnic minority communities in the House of Commons.  It has to identify any particular difficulties people in these groups face in becoming Members of Parliament, recommend ways of supporting them and recommend ways of tackling those barriers to their success.

Tony and Ade’s evidence will be based on the Citizenship Foundation’s experience of working with young people, especially in our political literacy programmes such as the National Youth Parliament Competition and Youth Act.

The session is open to the public. 

Full details can be found on the Speaker’s Conference website here.

David Barrs
Chair, Association for Citizenship Teaching and Co-Headteacher, Anglo-European School, Essex

Dr. John Lloyd
Formerly member of the Citizenship Working Party, DfES, and Citizenship Adviser, DCSF (2000-2008)

Jan Newton
Adviser on Citizenship Education to the Minister of State, DfES (2001-2008)

Born in East London to Guyanese and English parents, Paul is Professor in Sociology at the London School of Economics and is the first holder of the Anthony Giddens Professorship in Social Theory. 

Paul is best known for his work on racism, nationalism and ethnicity and his original approach to the history of the African diaspora into the western hemisphere. He has lectured all over the world, has curated exhibitions and has written a number of publications, including the well respected Ain’t no Black in the Union Jack (1987).  Paul will be talking about his career to date as well as his current research projects. 

This event is hosted in collaboration with the Citizenship Foundation. The Citizenship Foundation is an independent educational charity that exists to encourage and enable individuals to play an effective role in democratic society. Our vision is of a just, inclusive and cohesive society in which individuals have the knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation to engage effectively in their communities.

Tony Breslin, Chief Executive at the independent education and participation charity, the Citizenship Foundation, commented

“Few individuals have had such a transformative effect, not just on Citizenship Education but on the broader social curriculum, in the past half-century.  Sir Bernard was not only a terrific friend of the Citizenship Foundation, but the founding President of the Association for Citizenship Teaching and a founding member, 30 years beforehand, of the Politics Association. His land-mark text ‘In Defence of Politics’  was required reading when I studied A level Government and Politics almost 30 years ago. - the fact that it remains so with politics students today reminds us of just how important a figure Sir Bernard has been to this field.