In a world where academic achievement is often prioritised over practical experience, the BiG Community Challenge offers a refreshing, hands-on approach to personal development, skills-building, and community impact. A core part of Sheffield City Council’s See It Be It campaign, it is an inclusive programme with a clear focus on employability. The Challenge invites young people – many with special educational needs and disabilities – to create, lead, and deliver social action projects that benefit their local communities.
The BiG Community Challenge is more than a school project—it's a structured but flexible framework for youth-led social action. Students work in teams to identify issues in their community, generate solutions, and take meaningful steps to make change happen.
Students begin the programme by completing a self-assessment, reflecting on their current skill levels. From there, they take on roles such as project director, marketing coordinator, finance manager, or community engagement officer. Each team is encouraged to choose a cause that matters to them personally – one that also benefits their wider school or local community.
The result is projects that are deeply relevant, often inventive, and always rooted in compassion.
This year, teams from across Sheffield took part between January and June, culminating in a vibrant celebration event on 9 July to recognise their achievements. What they accomplished over six months is nothing short of inspiring – and speaks volumes about the power of practical experience to transform confidence, capability, and career readiness.
The celebration event brought all participating teams together to showcase their projects and reflect on their journey. For many, it was a moment of validation – a chance to take the stage and share their accomplishments with peers, educators, parents, and community partners.
Every student who submitted a Reflective Journal was recognised, with some teams presenting their projects live. The atmosphere was one of celebration, pride, and possibility and being lucky enough to attend the event, we left thoroughly inspired by the achievements of these young people. The event was not just an end point, but a launchpad for future engagement, with many students expressing a desire to continue their projects or volunteer in new areas.
Two standout examples from 2025 showcase both the diversity and impact of the Challenge.
Flower Power by Seven Hills School
The team at Seven Hills chose to improve the area surrounding Peaks College, which they found uninspiring and strewn with litter. Their creative solution involved recycling old tyres, painting and decorating them safely, and transforming them into vibrant flower beds. Alongside this, the students engaged in litter picking to create a more welcoming and attractive environment.
More than just a beautification effort, this project gave the students a chance to build teamwork, take on responsibility, and see a tangible difference made through their actions. As one student put it, “Teamwork makes the community dream work.”
Neurotastic 10 by Sheaf Training Centre
The Neurotastic 10 team envisioned something ambitious: to create a modern, inclusive library space at their school, dubbed the “Brain of Sheaf.” From conducting student surveys to presenting their proposal to school managers, the team demonstrated both initiative and strategic thinking.
They didn’t stop at planning. The students were hands-on in clearing out space, assembling furniture, organising resources, and creating a functional lending system. Even when plans shifted – like the rescheduled opening date – they adapted, stayed positive, and learned how to communicate effectively and problem-solve in real time.
This project not only enriched the school environment but also gave the team experience in budgeting, scheduling, and stakeholder engagement. They even added thoughtful touches like a ‘worry box’ and a games cupboard to promote wellbeing.
A key strength of the BiG Community Challenge lies in its dual focus: community benefit and personal growth. Each stage of the programme is designed to develop vital workplace behaviours: setting goals, meeting deadlines, managing resources, and reflecting on outcomes.
Students taking part reported improved confidence, communication skills, and a greater sense of purpose. For students with special educational needs, these soft skills are especially valuable in opening doors to further education, volunteering, or employment opportunities.
Moreover, by taking ownership of projects that matter to them, students begin to see themselves as capable change-makers – not passive learners. They gain real-life experience in managing people, tasks, and sometimes even disappointment, all in a supportive setting that celebrates progress as much as results.
In an era where employers increasingly value initiative, collaboration, and resilience, the BiG Community Challenge offers a meaningful way to cultivate these qualities early on. It gives young people, especially those who might not always shine in traditional classroom settings, a chance to be seen, to lead and to grow.
As the programme continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: when young people are given the tools, trust, and opportunity to act, they will rise to the challenge and their communities will be all the better for it.
If you would like to get involved in helping to improve life chances and career choices of young people in Sheffield, get in touch with us at seeitbeit@sheffield.gov.uk
