BHA pilot programme for increasing volunteering in schools

12 March, 2013

This weekend in Manchester we held the second pilot training course for volunteers who want to work in schools. The training course aims to help humanists work with teachers to have a meaningful impact on the education of young people, and to increase students’ understanding of Humanism.

In the last month 26 volunteers have been trained, with the aim to roll out the training over the next year through local humanist groups.

The training course we are developing is aimed at volunteers who want to work more strategically with teachers. Through better partnership working, our volunteers will be able to provide support and information to teachers to help plan lessons about Humanism, and help them to identify how the inclusion of humanist beliefs and values can improve outcomes for students across the school, including in Citizenship Education, and Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).

Currently all National Curriculum subjects have to provide opportunities for spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development. Through SMSC, which in Ofsted guidance specifically includes ‘beliefs, religious or otherwise’, we aim to help teachers to develop their pupils’ critical thinking skills while contributing to the three aims of the National Curriculum: for young people to become successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve; confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives; and responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.

If you would like to find more about the BHA’s school volunteering programme please visit humanists.uk/schoolvolunteers

Want to volunteer?

Have you ever:

  • Wished that you could make a difference to someone’s life?
  • Considered the importance of making sure young people understand the world they live in more fully and the range of belief and value systems that enable us to live together in harmony?
  • Thought about how you could use your knowledge and your life experience to help young people learn about Humanism?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you could make a successful volunteer as part of the BHA School Volunteer Programme.

We aim to roll out the volunteer training through local humanist groups in preparation for the 2013/14 academic year. If you would like to stay informed about training courses please register your interest at humanists.uk/schoolvolunteers.