Small Actions, Big Impact: Young Change makers and Nivea

One of the most exciting parts of the Agents of Change initiative is watching children realise that their ideas can make a real difference—not just within their school, but beyond it.

Recently, one of our wonderful Agents of Change schools, Stanway Fiveways in Colchester, set out to tackle an issue that affects every classroom: the spread of germs and the impact this can have on children's health and school attendance.

During the Summer 1 term, pupils in Years 1–3 took on the challenge of encouraging younger children to develop good handwashing habits. They explored why hand hygiene is so important, created their own campaign ideas, and designed eye-catching resources to inspire others to wash their hands regularly.

But they didn't stop there.

The children decided to share their ideas with the wider world by writing to a number of soap companies, sending their designs and explaining why they believed handwashing should be promoted even more widely.

Their efforts were rewarded when they received a response from Nivea!

Receiving a reply from a well-known company was an exciting moment for the children. More importantly, it reinforced a powerful message: their voices matter. When children are empowered to take action, people listen.

This project perfectly demonstrates what Agents of Change is all about. It wasn't simply a lesson about hygiene; it was an opportunity for pupils to identify a real-world issue, develop creative solutions, communicate with organisations beyond their school, and experience first-hand that they can influence positive change.

Every project, no matter how big or small, creates a ripple. Those ripples inspire others, build confidence, and help children develop the belief that they can make a difference in their communities and beyond.

We are incredibly proud of these young changemakers and can't wait to see where their next project takes them.

What ripple will your pupils create next?