Fundraising appeal to hold mass assembly to boost exam confidence
ABRISTOLIAN businessman, TV presenter, educator and motivational speaker who gives inspirational talks to students ahead of their exams has launched an appeal to raise £3,000 to stage the biggest school assembly in Bristol.
GCSE Boost will bring together hundreds of pupils who are about to embark on their GCSEs this year, with a two-hour TedX-style seminar featuring four key speakers from their field – including confidence-building, mental health, nutrition and attitude.
The man behind the idea is Junior Saunders, who is already well known across secondary schools in Bristol for his inspirational talks and assemblies, and presenting work on TV.
Mr Saunders said his goal is to hire out the Lansdown Suite at Ashton Gate for 500 students and 500 of their parents and carers to give the city’s Year 11s a pep-talk ahead of the weeks and months of revision and exams.
“As someone who has worked in education for many years, I am really passionate about helping young people in Bristol understand their true worth,” said Mr Saunders.
“I have designed an event aimed to boost morale, install confidence and allow learners to see their true worth before their first exam in May.”
Mr Saunders had the idea of the event following the success of his many assemblies over the years, and he said he wanted to bring together experts who can best advise those about to take their exams.
“They will offer a range of advice, exam techniques, wellbeing and inspiration so learners leave with a sense of positive purpose to help them in the five weeks of their exams,” he said.
He said his own story of struggling at school and with exams had led him to want to inspire the next generation of young people.
“Year 11 is, in my view, the toughest year in school,” he said.
“It’s when expectations are cast
I have designed an event aimed to boost morale, install confidence and allow learners to see their true worth before their first exam
on you from all directions, social circles are really formed, you may have been through a difficult relationship already, and you’re becoming your own person.
“The event I intend to do in Bristol, to put it simply, is to make 16-year-olds feel better about themselves.
“Sometimes it’s just the feeling of feeling better that makes all the difference – just like in my own personal journey it was the people who never gave up on me.
“I visit schools daily, I see the love and passion in teachers, and it makes my heart smile.”
Mr Saunders, who is organising the event as a volunteer, has set up a fundraising appeal to raise the £3,000 needed to stage it.
“GCSE Boost isn’t about business or recruitment of an establishment, it’s the karma I owe for the work teachers and schools put into me,” he said.
“Young people deserve the chance to feel confident in themselves away from any choice or influence. I personally believe young people in Bristol deserve the chance to have an event that helps and allows them to be themselves along with their loved ones next to them.
“I can’t change the world on my own but what I can do is start something that is all about giving – as the world sadly has become a world of taking.”
Mr Saunders said he wanted to create something that was free from business or sponsorship, but funded by the people of Bristol as a gift to its young people.
“This event will be free and I will not make a penny from it – this is about our young people,” he said.
“I hope I will be able to get the support of my community of Bristol to maybe start something that will continue to grow for our city, that will boost the confidence and wellbeing of young people in our city,” he added.
Junior Saunders