Concordia Youth Action

Concordia is a charity based in Brighton whose mission is to support people to develop skills and gain experiences so that they can thrive.  They run programmes that change lives and nurture global citizens who care about each other, their local communities and the world.

Concordia’s twelve life skills sessions, developed together with young people in Brighton & Hove and Sussex, provides young people from different backgrounds the opportunity to discover new skills, places, people, opportunities and experiences, they would otherwise not have explored. They help level-up skills & knowledge, and increase opportunities for young people in underserved groups/areas to engage in work, education and volunteering.

Concordia Youth Action deliver a project that promotes young people actively engaging in civic life and integrates their learning with social action. The programme particularly engages young people who might not normally either engage in social action or don’t have opportunities to develop their life skills.

The Concordia Youth Action programme runs for one hour a week for twelve weeks, guiding and equipping young people to learn eight essential skills that will help them with their education, employment and coping with the challenges of everyday life.  These programme covers the communication skills of listening and speaking, creative problem-solving skills, self-management skills of staying positive and aiming high, and interpersonal skills of leadership and teamwork.

The programme culminates in a minimum of two days of youth-led social action supporting a healthy, vibrant community in Brighton & Hove and/or Sussex.  This part sees young people planning and participating in a social action of their choice where they will learn the power of using their voice for the benefit of the local community.  Young people will emerge more confident, more resilient and with greater awareness of their capacity for change as well as of the diversity within their community.

Young people taking part in the Youth Action programme are guided to reflect on their essential skills and track their progression.  Throughout the programme, session plans highlight opportunities for explicit skill development and reflection questions to support reflection and raise awareness and understanding of these skills in action.