Common Purpose United Kingdom | Company Information | Participants/Alumni
A leadership course for young people. Your Turn challenges young people to think in new ways about the place where they live and the world around them, to examine how decisions are made and see how they can make change happen.
Your Turners examine topical current affairs, community issues and they go into professional environments; to chair meetings with their local MPs; to provide consultation advice to businesses and to ask hard hitting questions of community leaders. It is a unique, challenging and fast paced course which raises aspirations, increases confidence and opens minds, both for the young people and adults involved.
In England, Your Turn complements the national curriculum, in particular the Citizenship and PSHE syllabuses. And in Scotland our work embraces the principles and supports the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence and Pupil voice in schools. Its transferable nature allows young people to develop as leaders in sport, community roles and extra curricular activities. Resulting in positive, well informed young people into the school community and beyond.
The Your Turn course is designed for talented young leaders between 13 to 15 years old, who have already displayed their leadership in school or the community and aspire to take more of a lead in the future.
These young people may be on the school gifted and talented register, not necessarily for their academic achievements but because of their initiative and enterprise.
Participants will develop their skills through activities, discussions and visits which push them beyond their comfort zone, but within a safe and supportive environment. They must be willing to engage with a challenging course, which will require them to mix and communicate maturely with their peers and adult leaders, be willing to express opinions and challenge themselves.
The Your Turn course consists of three days time-tabled across a two-week period with, in some cases, a follow up day a month later. Usually there are about 25-40 participants on each course drawn from on average 8-10 local schools. It is delivered within school hours - usually 9.00 am to 3.30 pm. All of the course days are held at local venues.
Your Turners might spend a morning working with the Fire Brigade responding to a simulated motorway crash. Or they might lunch with local Councillors in the Town Hall or MPs at the House of Commons. They could do a crash course on how stocks and shares work on a bustling trading floor and then do a media training workshop in a television studio. From a rubbish tip, to a magistrates court; a homeless shelter, to a mosque, we create courses which take young leaders to the heart of leadership, in its many forms.
Schools interested in putting forward their students for a Your Turn course should contact the Your Turn staff based in their local Common Purpose office.
Common Purpose operates in accordance with a comprehensive Child Protection Policy.
"Young people have so much to offer to society. Common Purpose has recognised this through their leadership development programmes and award schemes that develop and celebrate the potential of young people. The more active, informed young people there are making a positive contribution to their local schools and communities - the better."
Zenna Atkins, Chair of OFSTED
"Dame Allan's Schools have been involved in Your Turn for three years and we have found the programme an excellent way to stimulate in our 14-year-olds a real awareness and deep understanding of the area. We have found Your Turn to be of real benefit and are happy to recommend it to other schools."
David W Welsh, Principal, Dame Allan's Schools, Newcastle
