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Roots Futures

Exploring Big Questions Together:

An Immersive School Exchange Programme

Bringing Young People Together Across Social and Community Divides

In a time of growing social divides, our school exchange programme offers a unique opportunity for young people in secondary school to connect outside of their social bubbles, share perspectives, and find common ground. Our programme fosters the skills and understanding needed to collaborate across differences, preparing young people to work together in shaping their future.

Roots Futures – School Exchanges

Not your typical school exchange

We’re reshaping how young people collaborate, leaving behind outdated models of ‘charity’ and ‘outreach.’ Instead, we’re fostering spaces of solidarity where young people, teachers, and schools connect as equals, forming meaningful alliances that challenge old boundaries.

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Our School Exchange Programme at a Glance


Our programme connects young people from diverse backgrounds, providing unique opportunities to learn from and with each other while fitting seamlessly into the curriculum. Here’s what it involves:

  • Duration: 4 full days across 3-5 months + launch assembly.
  • Curriculum Integration: A practical extension of the PHSE and wider curriculum, offering real-world applications of classroom concepts.
  • Delivery: Run by professional facilitators and co-led by young people and teachers, fostering collaborative learning.
  • Activities: Vision Day (Reimagining Society), School Swap Days (Reimagining Schools), Reunion & Review Day (Reimagining Self).
  • Focus Areas: Building empathy, developing critical thinking, and fostering confidence in young people.
  • Beyond the Programme: Schools can continue the work independently or with our ongoing support.

 

“A type of experience that cannot be read about or taught in a class…  a transformative experience for any child in their formative years” 
Parent
“An extraordinary experience. This programme not only helped our pupils to be appreciative and open minded about the world around them and what makes others who they are but also supported them in developing their own ideas, voice and character.”
Head of Year

 

“I have worked in education for over 20 years and this is one of my favourite collaborations to date” 
Deputy Head
“Roots opened my eyes. Even though we do have different backgrounds we are actually very similar… Now I want to influence all children to be proud of their heritage and find belonging.”
Young Person
“I began to understand that we all seem to want the same things. I began to feel a sense of proudness about myself and about my school because it is exactly where I, and the people I love and can grow with, come from.”
Young Person
“Before this experience, I found it very difficult to create friendships… I’d be too scared or overthink it to the point where I’d just give up. Now, although I’m not fully comfortable making friendships, my anxiety when meeting new people is minimal-none.”
Young Person
“I always saw my community as Ardwick but now I am able to see you’re not limited to one community e.g school/online/neighborhood.. We need to remember a community doesn’t have to be a small group of people. Every community has space to grow and change.”
Young Person

Roots Futures Reimagining

London Vision Day

London Vision Day

Manchester Vision Day

Manchester Vision Day

Edinburgh Vision Day

Edinburgh Vision Day

Yorkshire Vision Day

Yorkshire Vision Day

Gambia Vision day

Gambia Vision day

Edinburgh 2025 Vision Day

Edinburgh 2025 Vision Day

Frequently Asked Questions

ROOTS FUTURES PROGRAMME

If you have any safeguarding concerns about The Roots Futures Programme, or would like to report an incident, please fill out this form. 

Want to find out more about Roots Futures? Fill out the contact from below 

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