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The team of six year-eight students who had worked on the idea for a year says: \u2018To win is just amazing, it\u2019s mind-blowing for us. We hope that our message outlasts our time at school and can be carried through year on year to children who quickly realise it\u2019s not cool to carry a knife. Hearing about victims of knife crime affects us all, no parent wants their child to go through that and no child wants to walk the street scared! We want to change things for the better with a positive and inspiring message \u2013 so watch this space!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u2018I\u2019m incredibly proud of the students, they\u2019ve have so worked hard and invested so much time on this project. Their determination and passion to get the message out there is inspiring. It\u2019s so important that young people get involved and what to do something positive about these important issues that affect their peers. When the students decided that their subject was knife crime, I was worried about a very sensitive topic, but the way the girls worked with the subject, creatively and reaching out to a younger audience has been amazing. We all look forward to seeing their project grow into a reality over the next few months.<\/p>\nMs. Mohand, lead teacher on the project<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Other finalist projects included;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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- Harborne Academy,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Colmers School and Sixth Form College<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\u2018The panel and I were treated to an evening of high quality presentations covering a range of important community challenges. All the teams successfully demonstrated to everyone present, an acute awareness and knowledge of their chosen issue supported by meaningful and well considered solutions to tackle that issue (Street Robbery, County Lines, Urban Bird Boxes, Knife Crime, Recycling). This years standards of teamwork, presentation skills, use of media and research was particularly high and not at all easy to separate for us as judges. Consequently this caused much debate amongst the judging panel resulting in an extra-long deliberation. We whole heartedly want to thank every team, their school, parents and supporters for participating and contributing to a great event. Please be very proud of the work done to this point and continue that work if possible.
We the judges decided that the winning team and presentation showed a higher degree of originality, creativity and impact, their authentic message was simple but piecing, making it memorable and easily transferable. The judges also agreed that Birmingham Newman University\u2019s generous donation of prize money and project support would take this project and presentation to another level. We wish King Edwards VI Northfield School for Girls every success with their \u2018Drop the Knife\u2019 project and look forward to seeing the finished article in full swing.\u2019 <\/p>\nPeter Jones, NGA Finals 2023 Chair of Judges<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nThe evening also saw schools from across Birmingham presented with Birmingham Civic Society School Star awards, a fairly new initiative that\u00a0congratulates, promotes and celebrates the truly fantastic work that has been done by schools across the city to help those in real need during these incredibly difficult times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThe finals are such a special occasion to showcase our young active citizens within Birmingham\u2019s secondary schools. We know how much effort the teams put into the programme throughout the competition and reaching the finals is something that all pupils and teachers should be proud of.\u00a0 Well done to all of the finalist teams for their fantastic presentations and huge congratulations to the winners! We very much look forward to seeing this important initiative being developed through the prize and mentoring.\u201d<\/p>\nStephanie Bloxham, Incoming Chair and Chair of Citizenship committee, Birmingham Civic Society<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Next Generation Awards is offered to all Birmingham Secondary Schools for free with all resources supplied. The Next Generation Awards was made possible in 2022\/23 with the support of Birmingham Newman University, Professional Polishing Services Ltd and the generosity of a number of local Birmingham charitable trusts & foundations including The Dulverton Trust, The Baron Davenport\u2019s Charity, The Grimmit\u00a0Trust, The George Henry Collins Charity, The Edward & Dorothy\u00a0Cadbury\u00a0Charitable Trust, The Roughley Trust, The Limoges Charitable Trust, The Roger & Douglas Turner Trust, The GJW Turner Trust, The Harry Payne Trust \u2013 Heart of England Community Foundation and The WE Dunn Charitable Trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Birmingham Civic Society works to make Birmingham a better place for everyone, our work includes promoting and improving our built environment, architecture and public art, celebrating the heritage of our city and citizenship. We celebrate our city\u2019s past and believe in our city\u2019s future, and we would love others who are equally passionate about our city to join us and make a difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n