Common Purpose Ireland | Company Information | Participants/Alumni
A leadership programme for young people. Your Turn challenges young people to think in new ways about the place where they live and the world around them, to examine how decisions are made and see how they can make change happen.
Participants examine topical current affairs, community issues and they go into professional environments; to provide consultation advice to businesses and to ask hard hitting questions of community leaders. It is a unique, challenging and fast paced course which raises aspirations, increases confidence and opens minds, both for the young people and adults involved.
The transferable nature of Your Turn allows young people to develop as leaders in sport, community roles and extra curricular activities. Resulting in positive, well informed young people into the school community and beyond.
The Your Turn programme is designed for talented young leaders between 15 to 17 years old, who have already displayed their leadership in school or the community and aspire to take more of a lead in the future.
These young people may be recognised as potential leaders, not necessarily for their academic achievements but because of their initiative and enterprise.
Participants will develop their skills through activities, discussions and visits which push them beyond their comfort zone, but within a safe and supportive environment. They must be willing to engage with a challenging course, which will require them to mix and communicate maturely with their peers and adult leaders, be willing to express opinions and challenge themselves.
The Your Turn programme consists of three days Usually there are about 30 participants on each course from on average 8-10 local schools. It is delivered within school hours - usually 8.30 am to 3.30 pm. All of the programme days are held at local venues.
Participants could spend a morning with the Fire Brigade, lunching with local Councillors in the City Hall and then do a crash course on how stocks and shares work We create courses which take young leaders to the heart of leadership, in its many forms.
Please contact your local Common Purpose office for more information by visiting the contact page.
Schools interested in putting forward their students for a Your Turn course should contact the Your Turn staff based in their local Common Purpose office.
"Your Turn is a great opportunity to meet new people, share views, learn how to make a difference in our community and be involved with decision making. It also helps you learn about the way our community is run with all the rules we complain about, to ask why they were introduced and maybe influence people who can make a change." "This programme was probably one of the most worthwhile things I've ever done" "I enjoyed getting the chance to discuss youth issues that are usually brushed to the side and then look for solutions" "I enjoyed the Change It Workshop the best. I learned that young people can make a difference if we go about it the right way. Having the adults to help us with this session was very beneficial" "Such a fantastic programme. It has taught me so much more than just leadership and I've also made so many friends. Having a variety of schools was probably what made it so successful. I loved learning about people from different backgrounds and upbringings."
"Our students were deeply appreciative of the opportunity to participate in the Your Turn Programme this year, as indeed we are. They wrote up a project afterwards for their Transition Year Portfolio which was very impressive and I have no doubt that it will be to their advantage and the advantage of the school and wider community into the future. We look forward to being able to participate again in the future."
"Our students were deeply appreciative of the opportunity to participate in the Your Turn Programme this year, as indeed we are. They wrote up a project afterwards for their Transition Year Portfolio which was very impressive and I have no doubt that it will be to their advantage and the advantage of the school and wider community into the future.
We look forward to being able to participate again in the future."
Patrick Relihan, Pobalscoil na Trionoide Youghal
