Individual stories carry weight – and when it comes to values-based leadership (VBL), the stories emerging from Columba 1400 VBL experiences are reshaping lives and communities.
For young people from Alloa Academy, Lornshill Academy, and Alva Academy in Clackmannanshire, the Columba 1400 experience has been life changing. Through Columba 1400’s Young People’s Leadership Academies (YPLAs) young people have been given the space to identify what really matters to them. With the support of peers and staff, they’ve stepped outside their comfort zones, built new friendships, and found the confidence to speak up – and to step forward.
One young person said:
“It was life-changing… learning how to be a leader, how to cope under pressure, going out of your comfort zone. People get to see a new side of you… there’s support: talking, explaining, choices.”
These experiences are not fleeting. They leave a lasting imprint. Columba 1400 isn’t simply a one-off experience: it has a long-lasting impact which shapes their journey through school – and beyond. Young people return with a clearer sense of who they are, what they value, and what they’re capable of. They apply this clarity to real-world action – launching school breakfast clubs, organising primary transition events, raising money for charity, and volunteering in their communities. These projects are more than extracurricular; they are expressions of personal growth and social purpose.
The ripple effects are seen at home as well. Parents have reported remarkable shifts in confidence, motivation, and direction. One parent shared how volunteering at Breakfast Club since Columba 1400 has improved her daughter Ellie’s school attendance, academic focus and confidence:
“Things have really changed at home since she got involved with Columba 1400…Ellie’s attendance has improved and so has her self-esteem…The daily uncertainty about whether she will go to school willingly has gone. At home we’ve noticed increased confidence in our daughter and an expanding friendship group.”
“Another great outcome has been that Ellie became more focused on her studies. As a result, she sat two extra National 5s and then decided to stay on for a fifth year. She has also had the confidence to do lots more volunteering out of school, and this has really improved her confidence.”
Ellie has since gone on to win the Health and Wellbeing Award and the Young Scot of the Year Award at the Young Scot Awards 2025 for her volunteering both inside and outside of school and was described as “a powerful force for good in her community”.
Another parent reflected on their son’s experience:
“He came home happier… and more focused. He’s always had a good sense of humour but was at risk of taking this too far in class sometimes…Since the Columba 1400 experience he is clear that he wants to go to university and recognised that he needs to get his head down a bit and concentrate on his classwork. He also started volunteering more and has got a lot from this. He’s more confident too, but in a quieter way than before, and has had lots of opportunities to get involved in speaking to people about his experiences.”
The impact is just as profound for the adults who accompany them. Teachers and school staff who journey alongside young people on YPLAs often find their own perspective transformed.
Chris Jewell, a teacher, put it plainly:
“I’ve stopped underestimating young people. They are tougher and more resilient than we think. They can do more, grow faster than we expect. And I’ve come back more at ease with myself – I’m more accepting that it’s ok to have flaws…I do not always have to focus on and correct the minutiae.”
Hazel Stewart, a School Business Support Manager, reflected on her unexpected role in the process. Initially unsure of her place there, she soon discovered the value of vulnerability and shared experience:
“The “process” definitely works and the whole group just clicked by the end. It brings a new understanding of values – without you even realising this is happening. There were tasks which really encouraged you to share something about yourself or your beliefs and this felt very empowering. Looking in on myself I thought, “Wow! I am worth it. I deserve this experience just as much as the next person. I deserve to be happy.”
These stories, taken together, form a tapestry of growth, courage, and community. They show that Columba 1400 is not a one-time event – it is a catalyst. It empowers young people to lead with integrity and equips adults to support them in new, meaningful ways.
In Clackmannanshire, Columba 1400 is not just changing individuals. It is strengthening a community – one value, one voice, and one story at a time.