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30 August 2007

Is education the answer to a better society?

21 June 2007
Brent Cross sparks discussion:
Can education cure the ills of society?

Brent Cross residents are invited to a unique event at the conference room of Brent Cross shopping centre - The Coffeehouse Challenge - a nationwide initiative that brings people together to discuss the issues that matter to them, exchange ideas and change things in their local area.

The event will take place on Sunday 1st July at Brent Cross Shopping Centre Conference room, Hendon, London, NW4 3FP, where anyone is invited to drop in, grab a complimentary cup of Starbucks coffee and discuss the topics of education and society.

The informal discussion will begin at 1.30pm and is free to attend.
Organised by David Sassoon, FRSA, the discussion - 'Can education cure the ills of society?' - is set to spark an insightful and topical debate, encouraging local people to think about whether educational opportunities are key to improving society.
David said: "Education is often blamed for causing the ills of society. However, those in the field consider that many of society's ills have been and/or are being addressed by education. This Coffeehouse Challenge discussion is a great opportunity for people to make contributions to this debate and come up with practical ways to approach issues in future."
Augusto Mesquita, store manager of the Starbucks store in Brent Cross said: "This is set to be an inspirational event, giving people who attend the opportunity to learn and express their ideas and opinions on the topics of education and society. Starbucks is passionate about contributing to the communities that we serve. The format of the Coffeehouse Challenge creates a natural platform for people to raise issues and discuss them constructively."

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Set up your own discussion
There are still opportunities for people to set up their own Coffeehouse Challenge discussions throughout the UK.

People from all parts of the community are needed to take part in the informal discussions over the summer, which can be organised and chaired by anyone who has a local issue they want to discuss. The idea behind the Coffeehouse Challenge is to get people together in Starbucks coffee houses or community venues and bring about change. Four years after its launch, the campaign is established as a positive and popular way of addressing local issues in communities. To date, 3,500 people have got involved in 350 Coffeehouse Challenges across the country.

The informal discussion format suits people's lifestyles, and is both relevant and easy to engage with. As an incentive, the RSA and Starbucks are offering a share of £20,000 in awards to get the most innovative projects off the ground following the meetings, beginning in June.

Matthew Taylor, CEO of the RSA, said: "A survey we commissioned earlier this year found that people are struggling to find ways of making a positive contribution to society. It all seems too hard and they are absenting themselves from involvement. We need to build confidence and provide new public spaces for people to be creative and collaborate on solutions to the really difficult problems we are all having to face up to in our local communities. That's what the Coffeehouse Challenge seeks to do, offer a new public space for discourse and action."
Phil Broad, managing director of Starbucks Coffee Company UK, said: "Starbucks is committed to contributing to the communities we serve, and enabling people to come together in our coffee houses to discuss local issues and bring about positive change is something we are really proud of. The Coffeehouse Challenge aims to remove the barriers and help kick-start projects across the country, which will make a tangible difference locally."

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For more information on the Coffeehouse Challenge and how you can get involved, visit www.coffeehousechallenge.org.

The Coffeehouse Challenge discussion will be held at Brent Cross Shopping Centre Conference room, Hendon, London, NW4 3FP, on Sunday 1 July at 1.30pm and everyone is welcome to attend. For further information please contact David Sassoon on XX.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information, contact Lucy Whittle, Paratus Communications, on 020 7404 6691.


"Full case studies of previous winners are available on request.
"The 2007 Coffeehouse Challenge is set to be the biggest ever, with people throughout the UK running discussions in their local Starbucks coffee houses. The activity launched on June 1st and discussions will take place throughout that month and into the summer, though discussions can be set up at any time during the summer months.
"Anyone can run a Coffeehouse Challenge discussion. Simply log on to www.coffeehousechallenge.org for more information.
"Following discussions facilitators are invited to apply to the RSA for a share in £20,000 funding to carry out the projects they've discussed during the Challenges.

The RSA's (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) purpose is to drive positive social change. Drawing on an influential network of leaders from every field and background, the RSA is a linchpin for ideas, innovation and change - locally, nationally and internationally. www.theRSA.org

Starbucks Coffee Company provides an uplifting experience that enriches people's lives one moment, one human being, one extraordinary cup of coffee at a time. To share in the experience, visit www.starbucks.com.