RIBA Ambassadors Programme

It was great fun being involved with the RIBA Architecture Ambassadors programme, which enabled a team of 3 Pick Everard architects to lead two half-day workshops at Rokesley Junior School.

During the workshops, we had the opportunity to introduce the pupils to architecture and design through fun, hands-on activities, while explaining how these skills could be applied to an array of careers in the built environment, including STEM, architecture and construction.

We believe that crucial volunteering sessions such as these:

• empower children and young people with skills that are transferrable to many other careers in design and construction - it's not just about architecture;
• teach the children to be hands on and can encourage them to think about careers in trades such as brick laying and carpentry;
• can encourage their drawing and 2D design skills, which may help them to choose a career in interior design or graphic design;
• support their curriculum, specifically art/design, DT, geography and science, by incorporating 2D and 3D work, combined with the theory behind the creation (the brief for these workshops was 'natural disasters'; therefore, the children created earthquake proof towers!);
• encourage development of social skills, as the two days were spent working in groups;
• can encourage development of alternative thinking and problem solving;
• and of course (and most importantly) ... these workshops empower the children and young people to have an opinion on the built environment!