Working with young people
We enable young people, especially those from tough realities, and the key adults in their life, to lead lives of purpose, meaning and contribution.
Our vision is that every young person and the key adults in their life share a common experience and understanding of values-based leadership which enables them to make real lasting change in their own lives and in their communities.
We work in partnership with schools, community groups, local authorities, third sector organisations and others to be alongside young people on their leadership journey, through our Young People’s Leadership Academies (YPLA).
Our Young People’s Leadership Academies
Our Young People’s Leadership Academies take place over three distinct phases, including a residential element at our purpose-built Columba 1400 Community and International Leadership Centre in Staffin, Isle of Skye, or a place-based element in community settings throughout Scotland.
What happens on a leadership academy?
Columba 1400 works alongside young people and the key adults in their lives, in groups of up to 20 individuals over a period of around 6-9 months. We facilitate, elicit and catalyse a journey of individual and collective discovery. We call these Values-Based Leadership Academies. They can broadly be described in terms of the following phases:
Phase One – Activation: unlocks awareness of self and others. It introduces values and how these underpin and shape who we are and what we do. The group begin to explore their own values. Takes place in home community.
Phase Two – Mobilisation: the immersive phase (with a residential element or place-based element in their home community) which draws out their strengths and values, all the time encouraging them to think about how they want to live and be in the future.
Phase Three – Sustainable Change: we continue to be alongside our participants back in their community as they continue their individual and collective journey to be the change they want to see, all underpinned by their confirmed personal values. Takes place in home community.
Our Young People’s Leadership Academies have made a huge difference to more than 25,000 young people and the key adults in their lives in Scotland and further afield, including our sister organisation, Columba Leadership in South Africa.
Following their YPLA, young people go on to create real lasting change in their communities. Find out more here.
If you’d like to find out more about a Young People’s Leadership Academy for your school, organisation or community please contact us at: [email protected]
We would love to extend the range and reach of our work with young people and would be grateful for any support to help us make this a reality. Find out more about how you could support us here.
Our Young People’s Leadership Academies with a residential element take place over six to nine months and include a five-day residential at our beautiful purpose-built Community and International Leadership Centre in Staffin on the Isle of Skye.
We also deliver our Young People’s Leadership Academies with a place-based element entirely within the young people’s local community. This model of delivery is particularly suited to young people who may not be attending school, have a caring responsibility or may not feel able to participate in our leadership academy where the Phase Two part is based in Skye.
REAL RESULTS
The outcomes
After taking part in a Young People’s Leadership Academy:
Increased their confidence
Increased their resilience
Increased their self-esteem
Improved their leadership skills
Embraced a leadership role in their school or community
According to an independent evaluation by McKinlay Consulting, 2022
“I will be eternally grateful for this opportunity to invest in our young people who will undoubtedly go on to be the leaders of a brighter, better future.”
HEAD TEACHER
“Columba 1400 will change your life and your outlook on life in the best way and it will open up so many doors for you.”
YOUNG PERSON