In 2021, Primary Futures returned to Dorset to reinvigorate our previous raising aspirations work in the area, pre-pandemic. Following the success of the Inspiring Dorset project in 2019, we were thrilled to be back working with schools and volunteers to support children in the area.
With the pandemic disrupting momentum to education generally, we teamed up once again with Dorset LEP and Dorset Council to inspire children and raise aspirations, linking their learning in the present to possibilities in the future, whether those possibilities are in Dorset or beyond. Primary Futures enables access to thousands of virtual volunteers so children can broaden their horizons both locally and nationally, and this enlivened learning in Dorset in the 2021 era of post-pandemic recovery.
The Inspiring Dorset 2021 campaign kicked off in May 2021 with more than 2,000 children from 21 schools across Dorset joining a showcase virtual event, featuring Dorset-based volunteers Nick, a film producer, Philip, a Head of Yacht Management, and Anna, a dentist.
Pupils learned:
- There are so many different jobs to choose from.
- That there are jobs that I didn’t necessarily know about
- About the different skills you need.
- That you have to learn a lot in primary and secondary school to earn your future job.
- To always try new things and try my best!
You can access videos of the two virtual events below:
May activity: Hear from a film producer, a Head of Yacht Management, and a dentist.
September activity: Meet a town planner in Dorset, an engineer who installs wind turbines in Taiwan, and a Senior Associate at JP Morgan
Inspiring Dorset 2021 – targeted project schools
Targeting schools in areas of low social mobility, we provided a package of intensive facilitated support for a group of 25 schools. Participating schools received support to plan an aspirational programme of activities, including an introduction to Primary Futures at school staff meetings, a planning call to link Primary Futures to their curricular and enrichment objectives, and administration and facilitation of a virtual Primary Futures live activity bespoke to their school.
Inspiring Dorset 2019
The 2019 Dorset project launched with a lively event at Holy Trinity Primary School, where more than 50 volunteers came in to discuss their wide array of jobs and career routes, some even bringing props. Gender stereotyping was highlighted throughout these events, with a female plumber showing children how to assemble pipes and a male nurse telling them his career story. One excited pupil said, “I felt inspired and now know I can do any job I want”, and another, “‘I loved every single person who came to our classroom”.
A representative from Holy Trinity Primary School commented, “The volunteers’ enthusiasm to share their careers, to inspire our pupils, and raise their aspirations was amazing – it was such a positive morning!” A teacher from All Saints School also commented on their event, stating that it gave insight into what the pupils want from employer engagement.
Volunteers called the campaign “A brilliant initiative”, saying, “I had such fun, the children were fantastic, so engaged”.
The launch was covered by Wessex FM, Dorset Echo and BBC Spotlight – watch the video below to get a flavour of in-school activities:
