On Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th December, the Mulberry Schools Trust (MST) held the 27th Global Classrooms London Model United Nations (GCLMUN) conference at the International Maritime Organisation, the only UN organisation with headquarters in London. GCLMUN is part of the UNAUSA’s Global Classrooms MUN programme and MST is proud to be leading the largest schools programme in the UK for this worldwide network. The bi-annual conference involves a pupil-led Secretariat and brings together hundreds of pupils from across the country, including all schools within MST. 

Pupils played the role of Ambassadors in simulations of UN committees to build an understanding of global challenges through debates and resolution writing. They were equipped with co-operation, leadership and public speaking skills, and developed as confident global citizens. Using the Universal Declaration for Human Rights as their guiding work, they considered how the international community could tackle different forms of discrimination, focusing on refugees, the LGBTQ+ community and indigenous peoples. 

Mulberry School for Girls and the Mulberry Schools Foundation is partnering with Jude Kelly CBE for a two-year residency as ‘Thought Leader’. Over this period, Jude will lead a total of six Mulberry Think-ins to generate, communicate and celebrate young people’s ideas and priorities for achieving a gender equal world.

A series of three events will generate, communicate and celebrate young people’s ideas and priorities for achieving a gender equal world.  Mulberry Think-ins extend serious debate about issues facing girls and women globally to young people and adults whose voices are less usually heard. Inspired by Jude Kelly and her invited contributors, participants will collectively generate ideas and solutions that will enable more girls and women to reach their true potential as individuals and leaders.

3rd – 4th August and 6th – 11th August 2018 4.35pm – 5.20pm at theSpace@ Surgeons Hall, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EN8 9DW

In August 2018, 19 Mulberry students and 11 Mulberry staff will be visiting the Edinburgh Festival to perform a brand new piece of theatre created over the past six months. The play, called Cry God for Harry, England and St George! will be performed eight times at the festival, and we are also planning a special one-off performance in the West End in London in September.

Cry God for Harry, England and St George! has been inspired by Mulberry’s ongoing work with the Donmar Warehouse alongside Phyllida Lloyd’s all-female Shakespeare productions, as well as being written in response to a specific Islamophobic threat that took place during the creation of the piece. During the creation of the play, students also examined questions about what it means to be British, as well as looking at Shakespeare and what makes a great leader. In particular, we were inspired by the leadership exhibited by teenagers in Florida following the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School.

The play follows a group of young East London women as they attempt to stage a production of Shakespeare’s Henry V, before they receive a copy of the infamous ‘Punish a Muslim Day’ letter through the post. We then see how the group react to coming under threat, and how they decide to stand up to those who wish them harm. The play explores what it means to be British, what it takes to be a leader, and how a group of young people can change the world.

Click here https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/cry-god-for-harry-england-and-st-george to book tickets for the show.