A handy guide for schools to help young black men thrive
Androulla Harris and Ramone Whittle
How can schools help to promote young black men’s wellbeing and maximise their chances of a positive future?
In this handy guide for teachers, This is me sets out the context in which young black men are growing up, and highlights the ways teachers and the school system can help them to thrive in school. This short guide covers the need for changes to the school culture, the building of relationships and for greater opportunities outside of school.
The guide was created as part of the Shifting the Dial programme, a partnership between Centre for Mental Health, First Class Legacy, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust.
Shifting the Dial is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, with the aim of improving young black men’s resilience and wellbeing. Part of the programme’s work includes bi-annual Fix It events, which aim to achieve systems-change in areas deemed important by young men. The first Fix It event looked at how the needs of young black men could be better met by the education system. Attended by teachers and young black men, it encouraged teachers and school staff to be more aware of unconscious biases and their own agency to improve the school environment for young black students.
