Courageous Advocacy at Darwen St James

At Darwen St James’ C of E Primary Academy, our faith is something we live out every day. Guided by our vision—“Nurturing ambition through a living faith”—and our core values of love, hope, perseverance, courage and frienship, we encourage our children to become courageous advocates.

What is a Courageous Advocate?

A courageous advocate is someone who stands up, speaks out, and champions a cause they care about. It takes true courage and perseverance to stand up for others and make a positive difference in the world.

We teach our children that everyone faces challenges at some point in life. Inspired by our Christian faith, we believe it is our duty to support others—no matter who they are or where they come from.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

— Proverbs 31: 8–9

We want our pupils to build the confidence to discuss big ideas, challenge unfairness, and realise that even the smallest actions can bring about big changes.

How We Put Courageous Advocacy into Action

We help our children understand that they are an important part of a global family. We show care for our world and its people through:

  • Our Pupil Voice: Our School Council and Worship Team listen to their peers, giving pupils a real voice to lead changes in our school.

  • Community Connections: Visiting local care homes, supporting local charities, and working closely with our parish church.

  • Active Fundraising: Raising money and awareness for causes close to our hearts, including local foodbanks, the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, Comic Relief, Children in Need, and the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal.

  • Our Friends of St James' & School Socials: Bringing families together and supporting community events.

Our Local Community Listening Exercise

To help our children understand the needs of our own neighbourhood, we carry out a community listening exercise with our families and neighbours, asking two simple questions:

  1. What do we love about living here?

  2. What causes us concern or grief?

Our children help gather and look at the responses to see where they can take action and help make our local area an even better place to live.