What happens when young people are given the space to think differently, the confidence to try something new and the support to see where their ideas might take them? We’re getting a glimpse of that already in this year’s Think B!G programme.
This year’s programme is now well underway, with our first student check-in complete and mentors busy sharing feedback on how teams are getting on.
It’s encouraging to see students finding their feet, building confidence, learning new skills and beginning to bring their ideas to life. With mentors there to encourage, question and offer a fresh perspective, students are discovering new strengths and challenging their own thinking along the way.
And perhaps that’s one of the most valuable things they take away from the experience. In a world that can feel pretty unpredictable, having the confidence to explore the unfamiliar, work through challenges and recognise what you’re capable of is no small thing.
We often talk about the importance of preparing young people for the future. But in a world that seems to change by the minute, perhaps one of the most valuable things we can give them is the confidence to figure things out for themselves.
That’s where creative thinking comes in. And we’re not just talking about being artistic or coming up with a clever idea. It’s about questioning what’s taken for granted, looking at problems from a different angle, being willing to experiment and, occasionally, discovering that the first idea wasn’t quite the right one!
Research increasingly highlights the benefits of creative thinking for young people’s wellbeing, confidence and motivation. Having the opportunity to express themselves, make decisions and see their ideas develop gives students a greater sense of ownership and belief in what they can achieve. It also helps them build resilience, develop problem-solving skills and become more comfortable with challenges and uncertainty.
Our Think B!G programme gives teenagers the opportunity to tackle real-world challenges through a combination of creative and critical thinking, practical workshops and support from mentors working across different industries.
Whether they’re exploring climate action, mental health, equality or inclusion, or how to use AI safely and beneficially, students are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions and think about how things could be done differently. There are no ready-made answers and certainly no expectation that they’ll get everything right first time.
In fact, getting things wrong is very much part of the process!
And, just as importantly, students discover that their opinions matter, their ideas have value and they have something worthwhile to contribute.
We believe every young person deserves the opportunity to see themselves as someone who can make a difference.
Creative thinking isn’t simply about generating solutions. It’s about changing how young people see problems, how they approach challenges and, perhaps most importantly, how they see themselves.
Sometimes all it takes is the right challenge, a little encouragement and the space to think B!G.
