Build My Future

A wellbeing programme for 13 year olds

Teams of students create their own fictional adult characters by playing a ‘game of life’ board-game. Teams debate challenging life choices for their character. Each team is facilitated by a trained business volunteer to explore the importance of a balance in health, citizenship, socialising and expertise. The students then build their character as a life size puppet. The day concludes with entertaining and engaging performances by the students, with their character reviewing the action steps and decisions they took and conveying the key message that a balance in life helps achieve happiness and success. Students follow up on personal action steps with the support of their volunteer and the option to meet up again through mentoring sessions.

Build My Future - Introduction from Henrik Dahle on Vimeo.

Students will

Understanding why a balance in aspects of life is important

know that action steps taken now help achieve happiness and success

Have the ability to vision a future and articulate personal goals

Gain greater awareness of wellbeing and how they can address mental health issues

See how joining in clubs and social activities impacts on life chances
Have a fun sociable day working with a role model with options to extend the relationship into a mentoring programme

What?

Before the event

Volunteers are trained by the facilitator who will lead the event
School has a set up meeting

On the day of the event at school or at a business site

Introduction and overview of the day
Team building. Meet the volunteers. Six students to one volunteer.
Students will introduce their team's volunteer to the rest of the room
Short film screening, showing the potential for the performance element that ends the day
Students play a board game to grow a character from age 13 to 25 through discussion and team decision making
Profiling and scripting the character / building tand rehearsing the lifesize puppet
Performing the puppet as a 25 year explaining how decisions
Judging, awards and feedback
Student action planning process and options for students to join a mentoring programme

The event fits to a school day

See activity from 2016 at Patchway Community School with Rowan Dartington and GE Volunteers