Feeling included and cared for at school - Illustrations

I was asked to create a series of images aimed at educators for the Derby County Community Trust INCLUSION conference coming up later this month. I’ll be back live scribing up in Derby (go the Rams!) stadium in a couple of weeks, can’t wait :)

The first sequence shows the effects of applying strict rules instead of taking the time to understand the child, so by the end of the day she’s miserable. The second sequence shows the pupil feeling seen and heard, and the result is that he’s had the opposite experience, and he’s had a great day.

Illustration work, amplifying the voice of the child in Merton, southwest London

Some recent local authority work, for children's services in Merton. I really like the way children's voices are being listened to more, and citizenship is being developed at an early age these days.

Children's parliaments, young people doing peer to peer surveys for the council, children's mental health ambassadors in schools. I'm hoping all this involvement can help build a more engaged and better educated, and hopefully kinder generation of young people.
 

 I also want to bang my drum for using illustration in this way. To invest in the communication of messages is a way of honouring testimony and amplifying people's voices. It's especially impactful when expressing the voices of those who have previously been sidelined and overlooked. 

Illustration may often look 'pretty' or may be considered a 'nice to have', but it's worth investing in the people who surround you, be that a child, your staff, or someone you're trying to reach at a conference.

Ok, time to get off my illustration soapbox :)