Tong pupils champion youth initiatives in Bradford
After being selected to join the Pears Youth Fund panel, Emmanuel (Year 10) and Iga (Year 9) from Tong Leadership Academy participated in an intensive three-week selection process with their peers to shortlist 32 diverse funding applications. The Pears Youth Fund – a collaboration between Give Bradford, Leeds Community Foundation and the Pears Foundation – supports youth organisations in Leeds and Bradford, providing flexible grants to help with organisations’ core costs or project delivery. By doing this, the Fund helps to give young people a voice in society through youth work, empowerment and engagement.
Working closely with adult partners from the Rowntree Trust, Leeds Community Foundation and Give Bradford, the Youth Panel initially narrowed the field to eight worthy candidates during an online panel. After thorough discussions and final deliberations, the panel met in person at Highcroft Youth Centre, where Tong pupils Emmanuel and Iga played a key role in selecting the final four grant recipients. During this process, they showcased their ability to confidently articulate the merits of each proposal and provide constructive feedback for those not selected.
Emmanuel and Iga’s journey to the panel began with Samantha Siddique, a dedicated Youth Worker from Bradford’s ‘Breaking the Cycle’ initiative. Last year, Samantha worked closely with a cohort of pupils from Tong Leadership Academy who were facing challenges affecting their school attendance. Through her guidance and support, Emmanuel and Iga experienced significant improvements in their engagement with school, building stronger relationships that ultimately led to their selection for the Pears Youth Fund panel.
Samantha said: "It has been a privilege to continue working with Emmanuel and Iga and to see them thrive as part of the Pears Youth Fund Panel. The feedback from their parents has been overwhelmingly positive and it's wonderful to be able to offer these young people such a valuable experience outside of school.
“They’ve shown remarkable empathy in understanding the needs of others, and watching them grow in confidence, work collaboratively with adults and peers, and defend their decisions under pressure has been truly inspiring. They’ve represented the young people of Bradford brilliantly, and their contributions will have a lasting impact on the opportunities available to youth in the community over the next two years."
The grants awarded by the youth panel – totalling £80,000 – will benefit Third Sector organisations throughout Bradford, including vital initiatives local to Tong Leadership Academy. This achievement not only highlights Emmanuel and Iga’s individual success, but also strengthens Tong Leadership Academy’s mission to nurture leadership and promote civic engagement among its pupils.