VIEWS & OPINION
Whose body is it anyway? Comment by MARK BENTLEY, London Grid for Learning
Take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror, and what do you see? It will probably include an image of your body, but that won’t be the same as your body image, which is shaped by much more than rays of light. Are we doing enough to protect the children in our care from the mental health issues and eating disorders that stem from low body image? No! The underlying issues are nothing new: humans yearn for approval, and few people are averse to being found physically attractive. When we are exposed to a surfeit of restrictive messages about the ‘correct’ body type or to images of photoshopped celebrities with impossible waistlines, it is inevitable that we sometimes wonder if we are as we should be. If you have a quiet moment, Google “celebrity photoshop fails”. But add into the mix a child or young person who is forming their identity and undergoing friendship issues, puberty and intense self-evaluation, and you are bound to face trouble. Advances in technology mean that edited photos aren’t just for the experts any more. New apps allow you to make drastic changes to images at a swipe, raising all kinds of issues around ‘ideal’.
If you stop to ask how many of the effortless [sic] selfies posted on Instagram were taken on the spur of the moment without half an hour of makeup, ten minutes of staging and hundreds of snaps and a careful choice of filter, you might re-evaluate your pangs of jealousy at the flawless hair, perfect pout and carefree demeanour. But that is easier said than done for young people, so we need to make sure we are talking to them about it. And while we’re at it, how about suggesting less time
spent vicariously scrolling through other people’s perfect pics? There is lots of great advice out there, and we have collated tips and resources for you at
bodyimage.lgfl.net. For example, Common Sense Media gives the following top tips for supporting young people (my comments added):
• Watch what you say – children learn a lot about body image from teachers and families, so a throwaway comment often sticks. • Look for alternative media – there are different role models and media that are more responsible, so help children and young people to find them.
• Expose the myths and do a reality check – we talked earlier about photoshopped celebrity images and the apps that can do similar. Find some age-appropriate images and talk about them. And look at the real bodies around you: are they like the ones in the films. • Keep active – healthy bodies are happy bodies, and sport is great for mental health too!
• Keep an eye on social networks – be aware of what your young people are doing online and what their friends and people they follow are up to.
There is real damage being done to the mental health of our young people by the body image problems perpetuated in the mainstream and social media, and in ‘pro-ana’ and ‘thin-spo’ communities. So visit
bodyimage.lgfl.net to see resources we have collated to support and reinforce positive messages in the classroom and at home.
How we can help refugees access higher education and improve their lives Comment by LUCY JUDD, Outreach Coordinator at Nottingham Trent University
A new report claims 1% of refugees reach higher education. There is an argument that this figure could be improved with outreach work by universities. Imagine having aspirations of staying in education to become a doctor or lawyer, but then being unexpectedly forced to abandon your studies and flee your country because it is unsafe, leaving you unsure of the future.
There are more than 15 million refugees worldwide according to the British Red Cross, but a new report claims that just 1% of refugees reach higher education.
Attending university is often an important aim for refugees seeking to rebuild their lives in a new country. Education represents an opportunity to continue pursuing their goals and it offers the chance to integrate into a new culture and environment. Refugees frequently cite education as the key to integration, through employment, learning a new language and establishing new friendships.
However, according to a study by the European Students Union, many refugees struggle to reach university, largely due to limited recognition of previous international qualifications and a lack of guidance. This is especially the case for those with no documents, or those needing English language support.
At Nottingham Trent University (NTU), we believe that although refugees face significant barriers to accessing university, outreach work can play a vital role in providing support to help navigate those additional hurdles. Experience tells us that professionals including volunteers, teachers and foster carers, who are already supporting refugees, are often unsure about
June 2017
how to advise those aspiring to university. By working in collaboration with local organisations, we can provide clarity around what can be a complicated process.
This kind of work is about identifying the needs of the individual and providing signposting. For many, visiting a university and talking to staff and students offers reassurance. For others, it’s about providing the opportunity to practice English and socialise with peers. We anticipate that outreach will become a platform for supporting those whose studies have been interrupted, to get back on track with learning in the UK and to continue pursuing their careers.
Outreach provides the long-term support and access to university which is necessary, when the journey to get there for so many refugees, will be a long one.
Work at Nottingham Trent is about establishing the Refugee Outreach Programme and shaping it to be effective. We offer opportunities to find out more about UK higher education and accessing finance, tours and academic taster sessions, as well as English-language support classes and a summer school.
This year, we will see our first asylum-seeking outreach participants take up their university places at institutions across the country - and all with funding in place to help ensure their smooth transition and success. Hundreds of young people and adults have had pre-entry access to NTU and other institutions through our Refugee Outreach Programme. We’re hopeful that over time this will increase the number of refugees, successfully progress to university in the UK.
www.education-today.co.uk 19
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