Campaign case studies

This page contains examples of creative campaigns run by previous Campaign! Make an Impact project partners.

1. Starting with history

Year 9 students from Immanuel College, visited the Thackray Medical Museum to explore 19th century public health campaigns. Having investigated the skills used by the original campaigners, students split into teams and developed audio campaigns about issues they felt were important to them: school food, bullying, child abuse, litter, and the need for an after-school club. Many campaigns included the students’ own experiences. The campaigns are now being run through the school council and involve all the students in the school.

“Students gained in confidence, developed a sense of achievement and realised that they can change things.”

Sarah Sutcliffe, Teacher at Immanuel College Bradford.

Skinners’ Company’s School for Girls, Hackney

Young people visited the British Library to look at the unique Suffragette collection. They learnt film making skills from film maker Dan Saul. They focused their campaign on knife crime, creating a film that would tell young people how to keep themselves safe. They interviewed key community members, and included tips about how to avoid knife crime. The film is available to show at other schools.

“We feel free doing this project – we get to give our opinions and work together.”

Shancele

Maybury Primary School, Hull

Children from Maybury Primary School, Hull investigated the 1968 Triple Trawler Disaster which profoundly affected the city. The subsequent campaign for better safety at sea, led by the Trawler men’s wives, became the inspiration for the young people in the development of their own campaigns. They learnt campaigning skills and developed a range of campaigns about issues they felt strongly about. They created a campaign exhibition with short films in Hull Maritime Museum.

Easingwold School

Students studied the abolition of the slave trade visiting both Harewood House and Hull Museums. They took part in the recreation of the debates around the slave trade. They worked with film maker Peter Kershaw and developed a graphic novel that reflected the history of Harewood House. The second part of the novel showed their own campaigns for new sports facilities.

Bishop’s Hatfield Girl’s School, Hertfordshire

Students looked at conscientious objectors from the First World War, exploring why people chose to abstain from fighting. They then ran their own campaigns around modern day prisoners of conscience. They raised money for campaign resources through a sponsored run and selling cakes.

It was excellent – a really enjoyable and interesting project. Bringing two subjects together to deliver in this way brought both the History and the Citizenship elements to life for the students. Some of the presentations they produced showed a deep level of understanding and were often very moving. The cross-curricular element was manageable and realistic.

Teacher 

2. Starting with Citizenship

Endeavour High School, Hull

A mixed group of students from Endeavour High School, most with English as an Additional Language, worked with Hull Museums Education. Students looked at diversity in their own lives and created films that reflect young people living in Hull today. Racism was explored through the abolition of the slave trade, using the museum’s collections and related exhibitions. They looked at how campaigns use visual, verbal and written communication and created an exhibition campaign “What’s Your Story” about diversity and social cohesion using film and a series of large scale photographic portraits. Opened by Sir Keith Ajegbo, Government Advisor for Citizenship, the project was a joint-winner in the cultural places category at the Yorkshire and Humberside Local Government Awards and shows how projects can fit with Local Government Agreement Agendas.

Campaign! Make an Impact! had a very positive effect on the school and the young people involved. It gave pupils a medium (film) to voice their stories in a powerful and explicit way. The impact of their films on the school, and the community around us, has led to a greater understanding of young people and their lives.

Chris Straker, Head Teacher, Endeavour High School

To see campaign films visit We are Hull

3. History and Citizenship combined

Bradford Academy

Children from Bradford Academy worked with the British Library and the Holocaust Survivors Friendship Association and focused on the Holocaust. Instead of focusing immediately on campaigning they looked at the citizenship issues in history, before talking about contemporary citizenship issues. They discussed injustice today and how to change things through campaigning. They learnt campaign techniques and developed a campaign around equality and against war. They produced artwork posters and a school-based exhibition. The slogan they developed, “I’ve got the power to be a hero”, encapsulates the idea that everyone can change things and you shouldn’t stand by and allow other people’s rights to be eroded.