The Next Generation of Leaders of Now Gets to Work Across North Wales
The Next Generation of Leaders of Now Gets to Work Across North Wales
A new generation of young anti-racism ambassadors have begun their Leaders of Now journey, with pupils from across North Wales coming together to start planning how they can challenge racism in their schools.
On Tuesday 22nd September, 26 new pupil ambassadors from 5 schools joined Show Racism the Red Card at Xplore! for the launch of the 2026-27 Leaders of Now programme. The new ambassadors represent St Joseph’s Catholic & Anglican High School and Darland High School in Wrexham; Denbigh High School and Ysgol Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire; and Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy. The programme is supported by funding from Healthy Schools, Wrexham County Borough Council, Denbighshire County Council and North East Wales Community Cohesion.
The launch also brought together 10 new staff leads, alongside partners from Denbighshire, Wrexham and Conwy councils. The staff leads will support their pupil ambassadors throughout the programme as they develop their ideas and take forward anti-racism work in their schools.
Alongside the new ambassadors, 7 returning Leaders of Now from Christ the Word Catholic High School and Elfed High School joined the day to share their experiences and offer encouragement to the new cohort.
Hearing directly from pupils who have already been involved in Leaders of Now gave the new ambassadors a chance to see what pupil-led anti-racism work can look like in practice. The returning ambassadors shared their experiences of leading anti-racism work in their own schools, giving the new cohort ideas to take away as they begin developing their own projects.
Pupils from Christ the Word Catholic High School (Rhyl) particularly inspired the new ambassadors with their explanation of their “Buddy Bank” initiative. The idea prompted the new cohort to think about how they can help pupils in their own schools feel that they belong, and how creating that sense of belonging can form part of their wider anti-racism work.
Staff leads also heard from Abi Boniface, staff lead at Elfed High School in Flintshire, who reflected on her experience of supporting Elfed’s Voices for Change group over the past few years. Abi spoke openly about the challenges she has encountered, the things that have surprised her along the way and what she wishes she had known when she first began leading the group. Her reflections gave the new staff leads a valuable insight into what leading a Leaders of Now group can involve, as well as practical ideas to take into their own schools.
Throughout the launch, the new ambassadors took part in activities to build their understanding of racism and anti-racism, consider their role as young leaders and begin thinking about what they want to achieve through their Leaders of Now groups.
The next stage is for the ambassadors to take their ideas into their schools. Over the coming year, they will work together to explore racism and anti-racism, identify issues that matter to their school communities and develop activities and actions to challenge racism and promote anti-racism.
Show Racism the Red Card will continue to support the groups throughout the programme, providing opportunities for ambassadors and staff leads to connect, share ideas and learn from one another.
We look forward to supporting this new cohort as they put their ideas into action and lead anti-racism work in their schools.