Start here
Try a change.
See what happens.
Try a small part of a school project to see how the work happens. For a welcome activity or student media team, ask what makes joining easy and what gets in the way. You could check the welcome information or help explain a first assignment. Agree who will review your work and how you'll tell whether it helped. Write down what happened so you have something specific to improve next time.
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- Practical guide
Try it out
Put it
to work.
1 / Try one piece of real work
Try this next
- Ask someone who recently joined what they needed to know at the start.
- Choose one small task, set a deadline and agree who will check it with you.
- Try it, note what happened and talk about one thing to change next time.
Talk it through
- What might a new student or first-time team member find confusing?
- Which small part of the welcome or joining process could you help with?
- How could you tell whether your task helped someone?
2 / Find a way to join in
Start with something small at school. Ask how a lunchtime game works, help set up a club activity or invite someone to try a task with you. Notice what makes joining easy or awkward. Ask people what would help. Choose something you feel ready to try, with support nearby. Afterward, think about whether you felt included and whether others had a fair chance to join. You can try a different approach next time.
Try this next
- Choose one school activity you'd like to try or help with.
- Ask a student or trusted adult how to join and what a first task could be.
- Try one small step and tell someone what made it easier or harder.
Talk it through
- Is there a game, club or activity at school you'd like to join?
- What would someone need to know before joining your game or activity?
- How could you offer help without making them feel awkward?
3 / Plan a manageable project
Agree with your community partner or host on a task your group can realistically finish. A garden task or one community session could be a good place to start. Check what people need, who will prepare things, what support is available and who will look after anything you leave behind. Plan around the time people actually have. If the request changes, talk it through before agreeing to more work.
Try this next
- Agree with the partner or host on the task, who it's for and how much your group can take on.
- Make a timeline showing who does what, the materials and help needed, and when you'll check progress.
- Start with a manageable piece of work and review it with the people involved before expanding.
Talk it through
- What has the community partner actually asked your group to do?
- Which parts need preparation or support that is not yet arranged?
- Who will look after the result once the initial task or session ends?
Choose one next step.
Pick one thing you can try. Check any requirements with the people responsible before you act.
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