This program called "What Can We Do?" encourages groups of students to identify issues in their local community they want to address and connects them with volunteers to help implement solutions. Over 200 students have worked on over 40 projects, collaborating with local organizations to effect change. Examples include improving park safety and starting a student-run healthy food shop. The program aims to develop students' leadership skills and empower them to improve their communities.

1. Case Study 1
Active citizenship in a network of Primary Schools
“What Can We Do?”
For Newham Excellence in Cities

2.  The scheme encourages groups of
children to identify what things they
would like to change in the local
community and then networks them up
with people who can help.
What can we do?
 Each team of students has a “Power
Partner” to advise them, usually a
volunteer from business who enjoys the
challenge of piloting one of the projects
to a successful outcome with support
from Twist.

3.  Over 200 children have developed their leadership
potential on more than 40 different projects.
 They have collaborated with the Council, with the
police and numerous other agencies in Newham as
well as with experts outside the Borough.
 They have now come to assume that they have the
responsibility as well as the ability to effect change.
“What Can We Do?” has had a lasting impact on their
inclusion and empowerment.
 Twist has also developed What Can We Do? Gold
transition project for students moving into secondary
school. It is led by Year 7 students in secondary
schools who team up with Year 6s in feeder primaries.
 It helps Year 7 students establish themselves as
heroes and award winners at the beginning of their
secondary career

4. North Beckton Primary
School improved park
safety in Beckton park.

5. Scott Wilkie Primary
School started their
own healthy eating fruit
and vegetable shop.

6. West Ham Church Primary
School turned an
area of derelict land
into a green space for
the school to use.

11. A cross borough celebration of the
projects hosted by West Ham FC.

12. At one Lewisham
school, What Can
We Do? Gold
began with a
Summer School
North Beckton Primary
School improved park
safety in Beckton park.

13. … and the new Year 7s
continued to work on
the projects with
their Year 8 partners
in the Autumn Term

14. Similar projects have been run for
individuals and groups in year 10 –
see Case Study 4
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