Become an Education Champion and be part of a movement to encourage new talent into the profession
You may well be aware that the CII had an educational outreach programme for some years, delivered using the Discover Risk game. The primary focus has been to raise the profile of the insurance profession to young adults as a career option.
Students, teachers and careers advisers have always been quick to comment on how effective Discover Risk is in enabling students to understand the profession and dispel common myths.
At the same time, many members have been involved in recent years with local schools, either by attending a careers fair or sitting with sixth- form students explaining what the insurance profession offers to clients and as a career.
We now feel that the time has come to significantly increase the reach of this programme and to support members who want to engage with their local secondary schools through the new pro bono Education Champions initiative.
PRO BOND EDUCATION CHAMPIONS
The CII's Education Champions programme aims to deliver Discover Risk to local schools and colleges across the whole UK. We are looking for enthusiastic and passionate members in all roles to come forward and volunteer as an Education Champion.
With your help, input, enthusiasm and dedication, we will transform this relatively small-scale programme to a national programme that reaches students all across the UK.
WHAT IS A DISCOVER RISK SESSION?
The format of a Discover Risk event is as follows:
â Introduction to the risk profession-- insurance to you and me.
â Short case studies about your journey through the sector.
â A competition for 20 to 35 Year11-13 students based on scenarios from around the world -- from film-making and piracy, to transporting chocolate.
â Students break in to teams and work together to assess the risks associated with the above -- they score points for correct answers.
â Finally, we talk about next steps, such as apprenticeships or degrees -- and offer students and teachers free CII Discover Risk membership.
WHAT SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE?
The CII will embark on a nationwide tour to provide training on how to best deliver this type of session in your local school. Registered volunteers will be contacted when a date and time has been finalised in their region.
WHAT RESOURCES WILL BE PROVIDED?
Much of the education work in the programme is centred around the Discover Risk game and volunteers will be provided with a school pack to use.
WHAT WILL MY COMMITMENT BE?
As with any volunteer-led programme, we understand that people have many commitments so the time you would allocate to this programme depends on you.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION?
Full details can be found at: ciistepforward.co.uk/volunteer-for-discover-risk
I would encourage as many of you as possible to look at this; it is a great way to give a little something back to your local community. I look forward to meeting you in one of the Discover Risk training sessions taking place in your region.
Together, I really believe we can make a difference and encourage a new wave of talent in to our profession.
George Tsounias is relationship manager -- education at the CII