Noak Bridge My Future, My Basildon
'My Future' is a project for Essex primary schools that aims to broaden horizons, challenge stereotypes and raise aspirations. Each half-term has an industry theme e.g. 'Construction' with two virtual sessions for Years 4, 5 and 6, and Years 1, 2 and 3. The children meet the volunteers, guess what they do and hear about their lives and their jobs.
The sessions focus on one skill per industry sector and the employees are asked to mention this in their 'reveal' during the workshop.
What is ‘My Future My Basildon’ and why is it good for our children?
‘My Future My Basildon’(MFMB) is a chance for your child to meet some great role models from the world of work.
This will give them the chance to think about what they might like to do in their future as well as learning what work can be like and how this links into their education.
Why so young?
National research shows that from the age of 7, children can have fixed ideas of what they can and can’t be when they’re older.
These ideas are strongly linked to their gender and where they are from. The research shows that many of these ideas come from TV, film and radio.
The research also shows that these job goals often don’t relate to the jobs that will actually be available which affects the economy as well as the child’s own future life satisfaction.
So what actually happens in MFMB?
Every half term there are sessions on Zoom where children meet 3 guests from different jobs.
The children have to guess what the guests do and then they hear about what their jobs are and some of their life stories of how they got there.
Each class opens a ‘golden envelope’ and has to solve a fun puzzle related to that industry.
The older children (Year 4 and above) get the chance to ask questions about the guests’ jobs.
Feedback from the children shows that they love meeting the guests and it is helping to shape their views on all the possibilities that are available for them in this area when they grow up.
They also start to learn about university and apprenticeships.
How big is the programme?
So far, the My Future Programme has reached 15,081 children, worked with 62 schools, featured 57 employees and enabled over 280,550 encounters between a child and someone from the world of work.
