Youngsters get leadership boost
Tamaki College students are reaping the benefits of participating in the Blues Charitable Trust (BCT) Youth Leadership Programme, designed to help emerging leaders flourish in their communities.
The programme, which began as a 20-student pilot course in 2022, aims to have worked with more than 300 students by the end of this month.
It brings Year 11 and 12 students from the Blues region into the facility for a four-week programme focused on leadership and aims to build confidence, self-awareness, and courage.
Tamaki College dean Scott Mansell said 20 students from his school had completed the course and he had already seen a shift in their mindset.
‘‘These young adults are really starting to come out of their shells, they’re playing a more active role in the classroom and are displaying leadership amongst their peers,’’ he said.
‘‘The programme provides a pretty unique and special opportunity for a cross-section of students – not necessarily just ‘rugby heads’ – to learn leadership skills both to lead others and grow as individuals.’’
Former Tamaki College student Maia Roos, who plays for the nib Blues women’s side and Black Ferns, took part in one of the Q&A sessions.
‘‘It was awesome to see players like Maia in a different light,
the stories they share make them relatable and the honesty they spoke with was really powerful and had the kids talking afterwards.’’
Blues Charitable Trust general manager Rob Woodley, who comes from a 28-year career with the police, where he worked with at-risk youth from South and East Auckland, said he hoped the course had a lasting impact on its participants.
‘‘In just a small amount of time I feel we’ve managed to make a real difference to some of these students,’’ Woodley said.
‘‘Our programme content is evidence-based, culturally responsive, and carefully planned. It’s awesome to see the students grow as the programme goes on and those who were quiet or shy at the start are engaging in activities, having a voice and in
their own way becoming leaders.’’
Students work on a career plan for their ‘‘dream job’’ as well as a healthy wellbeing plan, but Woodley said the support didn’t stop after the four-week programme.
‘‘We offer follow-up leadership coaching and check in with students after they graduate,’’ he said.
‘‘We can be a sounding board
to help with leadership positions they hold in their school and re-address their career plan to look at options for work experience through our business contacts at the Blues.’’
The Blues Charitable Trust is open for school submissions for the 2024 intake, contact Rob Woodley rob.woodley@blues. rugby or via the BCT website: blues.rugby/blues-charitabletrust