What do we mean by Courageous Advocacy?
When using the term ‘courageous advocacy’ we are referring to the act of speaking out against an issue of injustice, often on behalf of those whose voice is not heard. Speaking out, at whatever level this takes place, requires an element (and sometimes a great deal) of courage! Becoming a courageous advocate for change, therefore, must involve being informed about an issue and it must move beyond simply knowing, to saying and doing. Educating for courageous advocacy must embody an ethos of action-taking, challenging injustice and becoming agents of change in the transformation of ourselves, our relationships and our communities from the local level to the global.
‘What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8)
This document is offered as a guide and a support to help schools, school leaders and SIAMS inspectors to explore the concept of courageous advocacy and what that might mean in the unique context of each school.
Courageous Advocacy in the Diocese of Ely
The Diocesan Education Team have sent every church school in the Diocese a trophy to be used as a Courageous Advocacy Award. The trophy allows a pupil or a group of pupils to be recognised for the work they have been doing that meets the definition of courageous advocacy and can be awarded whenever a school leader sees fit. Once the recipient(s) are chosen and communicated, the Diocesan Education Team produce a certificate for the pupil(s) to take home. Often a member of the Education Team is invited into school to award certificates during a collective worship, and have a photo alongside the pupil and trophy. The trophy remains in school.
We want to recognise the wide range of ways the pupils at our schools are being courageous advocates for change. In 2026 we launched three distinct categories of Courageous Advocacy Awards:
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Courageous Advocacy for Charity – this could be raising money or awareness for a cause that means something to the pupil.
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Courageous Advocacy for Creation – caring for God’s creation, actively encouraging others to do the same.
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Courageous Advocacy in our Community – making a difference in your school community, or wider.
We believe this will encourage more creativity amongst pupils when thinking how they can make a difference. We look forward to sending out lots of certificates and celebrating our change-makers all around the Diocese!
You can read many stories of Courageous Advocacy on our School News pages.