Children's University: Live!

“If I were to sum up the world of education policy this past year, the two words that most readily come to mind are change and neglect.” Learning beyond the classroom can have a hugely positive impact on children. Yet it's an area of education that all too easily falls between the cracks of responsibility. Hear more from our CEO Helen O'Donnell about what learning beyond the classroom looks like in modern Britain and the compelling argument for greater focus, investment and recognition. This is the state of the nation 2022. More information Read the full reports here: www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/stateofthenation More about Children's University, visit www.childrensuniversity.co.uk

Helen calls a code red emergency! Children's University CEO and Director of Partnerships, Helen O'Donnell, talks about post-Covid recovery, Children's University's new State of the Nation report, the Social Mobility Commission… and Stranger Things. ----------------------------------- Helen can be found on Twitter: @helenodonnell6 and @CU_Trust For a transcript of this episode: https://tinyurl.com/7w38ts3d For Children's University's new State of the Nation report: https://childrensuniversity.co.uk/evidence To find out more about Children's University, visit www.childrensuniversity.co.uk   Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production

Dr Lee Elliot Major and Children’s University CEO, Helen O’Donnell, got together for an exclusive conversation. Lee Elliott Major is the country’s first ever professor of social mobility. He has written extensively about social mobility, including a book for teachers on improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. He was a Founding Trustee of the Education Endowment Foundation and formerly Chief Executive of the Sutton Trust. Lee and Helen got together to discuss Lee’s life and work, and issues around social mobility and education.The episode’s guests can all be found on Twitter: @helenodonnell6 @Lem_Exeter To find out more about Children’s University, visit www.childrensuniversity.co.uk  Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production

The Rt Hon Justine Greening and Children’s University CEO, Helen O’Donnell, get together for an exclusive conversation.Justine was a Conservative MP and Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities from July 2016 to January 2018. Since leaving office, she founded the Social Mobility Pledge and is a committed champion of social mobility. Helen and Justine got together to talk about education, social mobility, the impact of where you grow up and Justine’s past as a keen swimmer!To find out more about the Social Mobility Pledge, visit www.socialmobilitypledge.org To find out more about Children’s University, visit www.childrensuniversity.co.uk   The episode’s guests can all be found on Twitter: @helenodonnell6 @JustineGreening @SMPledge---------Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production

Jessica Oghenegweke wears many hats. She is a Social Mobility Commissioner, BBC Earth Kids Presenter and an active advocate for improving young people’s life chances. In this episode, we hear directly from Jessica with her reflections on social mobility and what her own experiences have taught her about what can and should be done to improve young people’s life chances. She is then joined in conversation by Helen O’Donnell, CEO of Children’s University. Jessica’s personal experiences and passion for young people make this a great conversation. The episode’s guests can all be found on Twitter: @joghenegweke @helenodonnell6 To find out more about Children’s University, visit www.childrensuniversity.co.uk  (http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk ) Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production

Cheshire Voices for Equality Association (CVEA) is an organisation that has been founded by young campaigners from Black Lives Matter Sandbach. The group hit the headlines (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/10/blm-organisers-in-cheshire-threatened-in-local-facebook-group) last summer when online threats towards them were made in a Facebook group administered by a local councillor.   In this episode, we hear directly from Katie Unnithan, Mia Sykes, and Keelie Grindley about how their experiences of racism and white privilege throughout their education, growing up in a predominantly white rural area, have made them want to make a positive change for the coming generations. They are then joined in conversation by Helen O’Donnell, CEO of Children’s University, to discuss the role that education and learning beyond the classroom can play in anti-racism work.   Black Lives Matter Sandbach can be found on: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/331247041600681/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/blmsandbach/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/BLM_sandbach )   The episode’s guests can all be found on Twitter: @katiejunni @keeliejade @meezsykes @helenodonnell6 To find out more about Children’s University, visit www.childrensuniversity.co.uk (http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/)     Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production

This episode of Children’s University: Live! was recorded before the current coronavirus pandemic. It features Children’s University CEO and Director of Partnerships, Helen O’Donnell, talking about the work of Children’s University and how the organisation and its partners are working to increase access to extra-curricular activities In particular, Helen explains how Children’s University Online, the organisation’s new digital platform, is best placed to support schools, educators and other stakeholders by collating important data around availability and participation in learning beyond the classroom. In light of the current pandemic and the massive reliance on self-led and home-based activities, this episode is particularly interesting and highlights the importance of organisations like Children’s University. The content of this episode was originally published in Achievement for All’s Every Child Journal in February. It can be read online here https://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/media/1210/ecj_p30-34_how-to-increase-access-to-extra-curricular-activities.pdf To find out what Children’s University are doing during this current pandemic, visit: http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/covid19   To read more about Children’s University Online, visit: http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/childrens-university-online/ To share your thoughts on this episode and join the conversation, you can find Helen and Children’s University on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/helenodonnell6  http://www.twitter.com/CU_Trust If this is your first episode of Children’s University: Live! then do scroll back down your feed for past episodes with fantastic guests. Hit subscribe or follow to ensure you don’t miss out on future episodes.   Children’s University: Live! is hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media (http://www.micmedia.co.uk) production.

This episode was recorded live at the Children’s University Conference in October 2019. It features Tom Ravenscroft, Founder and CEO of the Skills Builder Partnership introducing his work, followed by a Q&A chaired by Children’s University’s CEO, Helen O’Donnell. Earlier in 2019, Children’s University signed up to the Skills Builder Partnership as a formal way of bringing structured skills development into their delivery model. All activities validated through “Children’s University Online” are linked to the Skills Builder framework so that children, parents and schools can reflect and build upon the skills being developed through participation.  Tom does occasionally refer to slides in his talk. These slides can be viewed here - https://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/media/1185/skills-builder-at-childrens-university-conference-2019.pdf To find out more about Children’s University, visit http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk  To find out more about the Skills Builder Partnerships, visit http://www.skillsbuilder.org  Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production (http://www.micmedia.co.uk/)

This episode was recorded live at the Children’s University Conference in October 2019. It features Chris Millward, the Office for Students’ first ever Director for Fair Access and Participation introducing his work, followed by a Q&A chaired by Children’s University’s CEO, Helen O’Donnell. The Office for Students is the independent regulator of higher education in England. They aim to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Chris’s talk gives a great overview of their work and how organisations like Children’s University can support them.  Chris does occasionally refer to slides in his talk. These slides can be viewed here - https://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/media/1184/ofs-at-childrens-university-conference-2019.pdf  To find out more about Children’s University, visit http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk  To find out more about the Office for Students, visit http://www.officeforstudents.org.uk Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production (http://www.micmedia.co.uk/)

This episode was recorded live at the Children’s University Conference in October 2019. It features Sam Butters, CEO of the Fair Education Alliance introducing their work, followed by a Q&A chaired by Children’s University’s CEO, Helen O’Donnell. Back in April 2017, Children’s University became members of the Fair Education Alliance. They joined over 100 organisations working together in a coalition to end educational inequality. Sam’s talk gives a brilliant overview of the FEA and how they’re work.  Sam does occasionally refer to slides in her talk. These slides can be viewed here - https://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/media/1183/fea-at-childrens-university-conference-2019.pdf To find out more about Children’s University, visit http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk  Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production (http://www.micmedia.co.uk/)

This episode was recorded live at the Children’s University Conference in October 2019. It features Saeed Atcha MBE giving his keynote address, followed by a Q&A chaired by Children’s University’s CEO, Helen O’Donnell.  Saeed is a man who wears many hats – he is Chief Executive of Youth Leads, where he has helped more than 3,000 young Mancunians access volunteering opportunities and skills development programmes. He led his organisation to receive Her Majesty the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, is a recipient of the Prime Minister's Points of Light award and was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours List 2019.  He is a Trustee of Step up to Serve, which leads the “I will” campaign to encourage meaningful social action across society.  He is also a trustee of Young Manchester, Beacon Bolton Counselling Service, Generation: You Employed, and an Advisory Council member to the Care Tech Foundation. He is a school governor at his former secondary school, Ladybridge High School in Bolton. He is also the Social Mobility Commission’s youngest Commissioner.  His story is fascinating and emotive. Enjoy! To find out more about Children’s University, visit http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk  To find out more about Saeed, visit www.saeedatcha.co.uk (http://www.saeedatcha.co.uk/) Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production (http://www.micmedia.co.uk/)

This is the very first episode of the Children's University's brand new podcast. It features Helen O’Donnell, Children’s University’s CEO and Director of Partnerships, giving her opening address. You’ll hear Helen present her vision of where Children’s University fits within the current changing education landscape. The Children's University charity encourages, tracks and celebrates young people’s participation in learning beyond the classroom.  If you’re new to Children’s University, do check out www.childrensuniversity.co.uk (http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/) for more information about how we help over 100,000 children each year to develop essential skills, confidence and character through informal learning.   This episode was recorded live at the Children’s University Conference in October 2019.  Some of these other speakers feature in subsequent episodes of Children’s University Live so do hit subscribe or follow. Children's University: Live! is a hosted and produced by Vic Elizabeth Turnbull and is a MIC Media production (http://www.micmedia.co.uk)