DARTMOOR Multi Academy Trust has run a series of ‘listening campaigns’ at Okehampton and Tavistock College after embarking on a new partnership with people power alliance Citizens UK.

Staff across Tavistock College, Okehampton Primary School, and Bridgerule Primary School are being supported by Citizens UK community organisers to build power across their local community, listen to what local residents think about their local areas, and identify issues they can address to improve the lives of all.

The listening sessions, in part led by enthusiastic children, were designed to encourage people of all ages across the community to discuss what is great about the places they live and what could be done to improve these areas.

Citizens UK’s ambition is to build a Citizens Alliance across Devon over the next two to three years to address the structural issues many families face in their daily lives.

As well as fostering a sense of pride in their communities, children are learning invaluable skills through the process, such as leading a meeting, listening, and discussing the themes which are important to them. This process has built up childrens’ confidence and increased their belief that they can be a positive force for good in their community.

Dan Morrow, CEO and trust leader for DMAT said: ‘We are always aware of and thankful for the positive and proactive role our schools play in their local communities, and I am hugely excited to expand this through our work with Citizens UK. The skills which the children are learning through being part of these listening campaigns are invaluable and are also transferable to their everyday life.

‘It’s so important for children to feel empowered and confident in their opinions, and to believe that they can be a force for good in their community. I’m therefore hugely excited to see this project develop, and what ideas they come up with!’