Game of Thrones Star Helps
Champion Young Interfaith Heroes
70 young people of different faiths showcase
their social action projects at JLGB’s NCS Graduation
The JLGB President The Lord Levy joined over 270 people, including Games of Thrones star Laura Pradelska to celebrate the achievements of the inspirational group who spent the summer devising, planning and delivering community social action projects as part of JLGB’s National Citizen Service (NCS) Programme.
The three week programme unites young people of different faiths and backgrounds through adventure activities, social cohesion sessions and the development of a chosen skill. The young people were split into teams based on their chosen skill including photography, film making, digital marketing, catering and sports and fitness.
Their achievements were recognised this week in a jam-packed Graduation Ceremony with hundreds of parents, family and community guests from faith communities and the youth and charity sector. The young people presented their social action projects as the final part of their journey before receiving a certificate signed by Prime Minister Theresa May, which were awarded by other guests including Georgia Hutchinson from DCMS and Bhupinder Bhasin from Inter Faith Youth Trust.
During the programme the interfaith group visited a number of charities and businesses to inspire them to create their own innovative concepts to bring awareness to a variety of charities and causes they are passionate about. Participants took their ideas to a tough panel of judges in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch, bidding for up to £1,000 to support their projects. Having successfully secured funding, the teenagers ideas came to life. Projects included fundraising to raise awareness surrounding gender stereotypes, as well as autism, and creating an online campaign for young male adults with mental health problems, all whilst using their chosen skill as a platform to do so.
The Photography Team, named ‘Wild Cats’ and led by team leader Saphia Wyse won the award for the most outstanding social action project. Their project ‘Bridging The Division’ included a fashion show where they showcased traditional dresses from different faiths with the aim to promote social cohesion and celebrate diversity. Alongside this, the team created pamphlets to educate the audience about racial and religious myths. Through selling these pamphlets they raised a phenomenal £500 for the Interfaith Youth Trust.
JLGB are incredibly proud of all five groups for their phenomenal projects and to see young people of different faiths and backgrounds working so cohesively together, when just a few weeks prior were strangers, to drive change in their communities. It is this unique quality of NCS that makes it such a special programme and so highly regarded by universities and future employers.
The Lord Levy, JLGB President said:
“I leave here this evening with tremendous hope, in a world where we keep waking up to tragedy after tragedy I am so proud of the youngsters here who have taken part in JLGB’s NCS programme from so many different faith backgrounds. You have not just spent hours together, or days but weeks where you have become friends and buddies, have learnt from one another and achieved some phenomenal social action and volunteering projects in local communities. In today’s society, what counts is respect and understanding and you are our future. Each and every one of you have a responsibility to build a brighter future. You have the opportunity. My message to you is taking part in the NCS programme, becoming great citizens in our country, you give us all hope.”
The Wild Cats team leader Saphia Wyse said:
“My team worked together to organise a charity fashion show in celebration of their cultural diversity! The event enabled the girls to develop and showcase their teamwork and leadership skills. As a team leader it has been fantastic to see the young people involved grow in confidence and create new friendships.”
Razaq Bashorun, NCS Powered by JLGB 2017 participant said:
“During my time at NCS I spent three incredible weeks with amazing people… one of the skills I developed was my presentation skill, being able to interact with a large number of people sharing and expressing my thoughts and ideas. I have also developed my listening skills, enabling me to focus more attentively on the ideas that others also have to share.”
Ricky Kaplan, JLGB’s NCS Residential Manager said:
“It has been fantastic to watch this group of multi-faith young people go on a journey together, starting from a point of not knowing each other and ending by working as a group to deliver projects that positively impact the wider community, and have the potential to continue to do so for years to come.”
Laura Pradelska, actress and star of Game of Thrones said:
“What a special and inspiring evening JLGB’s NCS Graduation was, I was really moved by how amazing these young people are. From mental health issues, autism and interfaith community cohesion I was blown away by how incredible their social action projects were. Today more than ever, it is so important for young people of different backgrounds to come together, learn from each other and work side by side to make the world a better place.”
The ceremony also marked the launch of the 2018 NCS powered by JLGB programme. Young people about to go into school years 11 and 12 can register their interest today for next year’s NCS Powered by JLGB 2018 programme by visiting www.jlgb.org/ncs or calling 020 8989 5743.
For all Press Enquiries please contact Ellie Pendred, Director of Communications on ellie.pendred@jlgb.org
