Leadership for Change Prize 2025

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Discover our five-lesson curriculum and competition in partnership with Rolex.

Loneliness has been declared a global public health concern by the World Health Organisation. Loneliness and social isolation are connected to around 100 deaths every hour, with serious effects on mental and physical health. But in a digital age, it looks like we’re more connected than ever. So how do we build deeper, more authentic bonds and relationships that make us happier and healthier?

This year’s curriculum goes beyond basic debates about screen time and AI and gives students the opportunity to address the root causes of the global loneliness crisis. 10–16-year-olds will become empowered thought-leaders who are challenged to develop and present original strategies that build genuine community cohesion.

Then, to bridge the gap between classroom ideas and global influence, the most impactful idea will be published in The Economist. This is a unique opportunity to showcase a youth-led solution to a worldwide audience.

Address the loneliness crisis head-on and focus on human connections in your school community.

This oracy-based curriculum provides:

Skill development

Communication and critical-thinking skills are embedded throughout - speaking and listening, problem-solving and creativity. All skills are aligned to the Skills Builder Universal Framework.
Cross-curricular links

Including Citizenship, PSHE (personal social health education), SEL (social emotional learning). Explore big concepts such as AI and technology and geography and culture through current news stories and expert input. Activities cover fundamental skills: researching, discussing and debating topical questions. Use them to encourage students to explain their views on issues that affect themselves and society.
Enrichment opportunities

Covering leadership, civic engagement and wider life skills. Help students get to grips with what's happening outside of the classroom, both locally in their communities and on a global scale.
A ready-made, fully resourced curriculum

With a prestigious prize. The chance for a student's work to be published in a global newspaper, as well as other top rewards up for grabs.

What is Leadership for Change?

Leadership for Change is an education programme comprised of three core activities:

Curriculum

The five one-hour lessons equip students with the tools and knowledge to understand loneliness and human connections and lead change in their communities.
Live lesson

A live lesson on November 18th will connect students globally, with a chance to tackle issues collaboratively and hear from inspiring leaders.
Competition

Between September 15th and January 10th 2026, students will enter written 600-word opinion pieces about the issue. The winning article will be published in The Economist.

A child in a green shirt and orange glasses cheers with raised arms, surrounded by colourful geometric shapes on a black background, creating a joyful tone.

Prizes

First prize

Publication in The Economist
Feedback workshop with an Economist editor
£1,000 for the school to make their community connection ideas reality
The chance to present their ideas to global experts in a roundtable-style presentation
Publication in the Leadership for Change 2026 magazine

Two highly-commended entries

Written feedback from an Economist editor
£750 for the school to make their community connection ideas reality
The chance to present their ideas to global experts in a roundtable-style presentation
Publication in the Leadership for Change 2026 magazine

About the lessons

Expectations vs reality

Challenge assumptions about loneliness and togetherness and answer questions such as “do you have to be alone to feel lonely”?
Geography and culture

Explore how geography, culture and income play a part in loneliness globally.
The digital age

Put “technology on trial” and debate whether it helps or hinders human connections.
The third space

Uncover community hangout spots, their function and whether they should be protected.
Designing human connections

Assess local barriers to human connections before presenting community-based solutions.
Competition support pack

Advice on how to draft and edit an article, success criteria and top tips from a journalist.