Courageous Advocacy in a Church of England primary school is about teaching children to stand up for what is right, even when it feels difficult. It encourages pupils to use their voices with confidence, compassion, and respect to challenge injustice, support others, and make a positive difference in their community and the wider world. Rooted in Christian values, courageous advocacy helps children grow into thoughtful, responsible individuals who act with kindness and courage in everyday life.

At St Richard's school, we promote courageous advocacy through activities such as supporting charities, leading fundraising events, taking part in eco-projects, and working with our local community. These opportunities help pupils learn that their voices and actions can bring about positive change.

Other activities include:

• Our School Values & Vision of being Bold, Bright and Beautiful, along with our Agreed Principles, which are shared through Collective Worship and in the taught curriculum, are used to support children’s understanding of how they can advocate for justice and recognise their own responsibilities to be an active member of the school and local community.

• Children are taught about British Values of democracy, tolerance, rule of law, respect and liberty and how they can show these in their own lives.

• The School Council and Junior travel Ambassadors provide opportunities for children to represent their ideas and thoughts as courageous advocates for change both in school and in the wider community.

• Children have opportunities to do service for others in the form of; running their own stalls at Christmas and Summer Fairs to raise money selling their own home-made items, organising and leading their own lunchtime clubs, singing carols for the residents in care homes, offering thanks by preparing and hosting a community tea for our volunteers.

• Year 5 & 6 take on B Buddies (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies – PATHS) roles at lunchtime with younger children on the playground.

• Year 6 Prefects helping run and organise Worship.

• Collective worship regularly includes examples of courageous advocacy in relatable and relevant settings.

• Our Eco Team raise awareness of the environmental issues and attended a local secondary school Eco Conference (June 2025), where they came 3^rd place.

• Children, parents and staff represented Brite Box, a local charity tackling food insecurities and health inequalities, supporting families at a Civic event in Kingston and at the House of Lords.

• Restorative Justice is at the heart of the schools behaviour policy as noted above.

• Upper KS2 work with Oxygen, a local charity supporting children through mentorship and with transition to secondary schools.

• Long standing links with Lilomi, a children’s charity in Siera Leonne e.g Fundraising (Dec 24), Collecting Early Years toys (May 2025)

• Children organise fundraising events for causes such as the St Richard’s Church Roof appeal the RSPCA.