93% of black people in the uk have faced microaggressions reLated to their afro hair and school was highlighted AS the most common place where the discrimination took place¹.

¹Research by Censuswide, of 510 Black men & women with Afro Hair in the UK, 2020.

Facilitator leading a workshop, sitting on a yellow chair with two students in front
Facilitator in red jacket crouched down speaking to student in blue uniform

Pantene came to us with a challenge:

Develop a programme of creative activities that would raise awareness of afro hair discrimination whilst increasing confidence in young people.

Pantene and The Ideas Foundation teamed up to create a series of creative #PowerOfHair workshops and resources that can be woven into the curriculum, focusing on raising awareness and understanding of Afro hair discrimination, promoting hair confidence, and equipping students with essential skills to help set them up for the future.

The Pantene project has had such a positive impact on the students, I've had people asking me if they can do it! Our students rarely get these opportunities and it really does inspire them and allows them to think differently.

Kirsty Brown, Teacher, Caedmon College Whitby 

Workshop mind map on paper with colour pencils on top
students sitting in yellow chairs at workshop
images of afro hairstyles with written coloured captions and coloured pencils on top

Hair is part of identity and culture. I’m thrilled to see the students’ diverse approaches to this theme and the powerful outcome.

Creative Media Camp participant

#PowerOfHair Schools Programme aims to help end hair discrimination and inspire the next generation of hair confidence. The workshops equip students with creative skills as well as essential skills such as team working and building confidence. Ideas Foundation has commissioned creatives to look at the subject of identity and hair discrimination using creativity and employer engagement. Young people work alongside industry professionals and leading poets, photographers, artists and other creatives to explore this emotive and topical issue through a workshop that has been designed to get young people thinking and developing their creative skills.

If you would like to speak to us about booking one of these powerful facilitated workshops for your students, please contact helen@ideasfoundation.org.uk.

Resources

Download free creative lesson plans for students aged 7 – 18 that have been developed and tested with the National Association for Teaching of English and the Primary Science Teaching Trust, following rigorous testing and development with over 1400 students.

The lesson plans are designed to be woven into the curriculum for students across STEM, English, Art, Drama and more for KS2 and KS3 students.

Facilitator Toni Peters Smiling into Camera
student writing on paper
facilitator in blue jacket leading workshop in school sports hall

Resources Can:

  • Increase students understanding of afro hair and hair styles, through understanding of the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
  • Stimulate discussion with creative responses through poetry, reading, writing and art.
  • Help build students self-esteem, empathy and understanding around individual differences and hair.
  • Nurture inquiry-based learning using the science of haircare as a point of exploration.

ARE YOU AN EDUCATOR? JOIN US ON OUR #POWEROFHAIR JOURNEY AND DOWNLOAD THE LESSON PLANS TODAY.

Click here to find out more about The Ideas Foundation and what we do.

 

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