Investing in the Changemakers of Tomorrow
A joint initiative to promote green skills in Neath Port Talbot, made possible through Just Transition
Supporting a Just Transition initiative in Wales
Tomorrow's Changemakers Programme
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A new sustainable skills initiative is being rolled out in south-west Wales to educate the next generation about the challenges of our changing climate, and to inspire a renewed optimism through Tomorrow's Changemaker Programme.
Developed by Cymbrogi, a future-facing education company, Morgan Sindall Construction have committed to supporting The Tomorrow's Changemaker Programme alongside our partners at Woodknowledge Wales.
Over the last 12 months we have supported the development and delivery of a construction-focused Changemaker challenge, which has been piloted in St Joseph’s Comprehensive School and Ysgol Bae Baglan – paving the way for future expansion.
The Changemaker Programme is aimed at Year 8 & 9 pupils and designed to align with the new curriculum for Wales, allowing teachers to integrate the programme with classroom-based learning across the curriculum.
The Morgan Sindall brief tasks pupils to design a sustainable school of the future, encouraging collaboration, problem solving and creative thinking. It aims to promote an awareness of the environment and alternative careers in industries such as construction.
The investment from Morgan Sindall Construction comes through our Just Transition initiative, which provides £50,000 of funding to support communities through the transition to a low-carbon economy.
In Neath Port Talbot, this has been felt through the recent closure of the last remaining blast furnace at Tata Steel, leading to 2,800 job losses.
By working with Cymbrogi to fund the development and delivery of a sustainable construction challenge, we aim to shift the focus to green skills opportunities in the area by educating young people about alternative careers, creating a much more positive outlook.
We looked at how it fitted in with the four key purposes, the new curriculum for Wales, and we decided that this project-based learning was a really important way to go.
The programme resources are designed by Cymbrogi and are informed by the latest science, equipping learners with the tools they need for tomorrow's world.
Visit Cymbrogi's website to learn more
The programme is structured around student-led project-based learning, allowing pupils to work in groups with the freedom to develop their ideas at their own pace, using methods that work best for them. It's a blended learning journey, offering flexibility to present ideas and outcomes in a range of different formats, from model building to digital and mixed-media.
Teamwork is at the centre of this programme. Pupils must learn to work effectively in teams to collaborate on their school design using good communication, and learning how to support each other - key skills that were impacted by the pandemic.
The challenge is inspired by construction projects in the local area, exposing learners to real world challenges, processes and materials. Pupils are encouraged to find sustainable solutions through workshops and research tasks, with consideration for design, renewables and socio-economic factors.
The programme looks at how nature can influence architecture through biomimicry. Pupils learn how their school design can have a positive impact on the environment, addressing the needs of people whilst protecting and enhancing nature/wildlife.
Pupils are assigned team roles as part of the programme, providing responsibilities and direction. From team manager to researcher or presenter, the learners have the opportunity to find their place and express their skills.
The challenge starts with a project brief and is delivered over one or two terms, in which teachers are supported to facilitate project-based learning. The challenge concludes with a showcase event in which pupils’ ideas are presented and celebrated. There is additional incentive with prizes up for grabs, plus the chance to compete against other local schools at the Hackathon Finale.
The programme covers collaboration between enterprise and education, showing the learners how they could shape tomorrow's world. This includes highlighting skills that universities and employers are looking for, as well as considering the future of work and jobs that don't yet exist.
I don't think it can be underestimated just how important it actually is for the pupils to do things like this.
I've realised that there's so much more to construction than what I assumed, and if I hadn't have learned this topic I wouldn't have known that.
Construction doesn't mean building, it means also designing a sustainable way that we can work alongside the planet.
Doing this has really opened my eyes and seeing that there's thousands of things I can do to help the planet, and to help myself.
Our Just Transition fund will support our partners at Cymbrogi to continue developing innovative green skills resources that sit at the heart of the Changemaker Programme. Additionally, we will be sponsoring Cymbrogi's CPD training days for teachers in Neath Port Talbot schools. This will ensure that staff can confidently deliver quality lessons from the programme to pupils, in line with the new curriculum.
Our funding will allow the participating schools to access the resources and materials they need for the programme, ensuring every pupil has the opportunity to make an impact. Our team will deliver educational workshops as part of the Changemaker Programme, with support for pupils and staff.
Working with our partners at Woodknowledge Wales, this programme will help educate pupils about sustainable materials and how this links to prosperity and wellbeing in Wales, reinforcing our commitment to championing forest-based industries.
We would hope to see that the learners that engage in this programme will leave school much more optimistic about their future.
It’s been fantastic to see the impact that this programme has had at both schools in Neath Port Talbot. We’ve seen first-hand how engaged and inspired the pupils were throughout the programme, and we’ve been so impressed by the innovative ideas pupils have presented.
It’s also great to hear that this type of project-based learning is now being implemented in other subject areas across the schools. We look forward to continuing our work with Cymbrogi, to engage more schools and more pupils in the Tomorrow’s Changemakers Challenge.
Our ambition is to build a legacy that goes beyond the £50,000 Just Transition funding in Neath Port Talbot, as we support Cymbrogi to expand The Tomorrow's Changemaker Programme to reach more schools in the area.
In years to come, we hope that learners can leave school feeling well-informed about the climate challenges, empowered by knowledge and fuelled with optimism for shaping a greener future.
By engaging more of the local supply chain and businesses as the programme continues to grow, we're confident this will promote long-lasting benefits for the communities of south-west Wales, creating new opportunities for a generation of green skills talent - the Changemakers of Tomorrow.
