Empathy Studios Webinar

Join us for this webinar on developing the skill of empathy and to find out more about our collaborative partner, Empathy Studios and Empathy Week.

The world is becoming ever more complex and we have never had to navigate so much constant change.

We are all surrounded by technology & social media and societies are wrestling with the meeting of diverse local and global cultures. In the UK alone, neighbourhood diversity more than doubled nationally between 2001 and 2021. People are more interconnected than ever, but the news is littered with polarisation, war and hate.

1 in 5 young people in the UK are struggling with mental health issues, 847,000 experience cyberbullying & reports of intolerance & racially-aggravated offences are increasing.

Education is constantly adapting & evolving, but we are not keeping up with the pace of change to help students develop the toolkit to safeguard their self-esteem, wellbeing and position as global citizens.

Empathy is the foundation skill underpinning all other human skills from leadership to creativity, communication & resilience, human and social-emotional skills are rapidly becoming the most crucial skills in the Future of Work (Education 4.0, World Economic Forum). With a growing population of Millennial & Gen Z talent who are demanding inclusive & values-oriented workplace cultures, companies are crying out for employees & managers with the human skills needed in diverse, cross-generational teams. Further, as technology transforms the workplace, it is human skills that will stand out in AI-supplemented careers.

Empathy Studios recently released research insights with University of Cambridge which supports their framework and model for empathy development. The research which made headlines across the BBC, the Times and LBC showed that teachers reported improved behaviour. increased self-esteem and empathy levels when completing the programme. Download the research report here.
Empathy Studios bring two key programmes and events to schools each year:
The Empathy Programme - which is a 12 week fully resourced package with their films, lessons and also empathy action projects for students aged 5-18 - see the powerful trailer here

Empathy Week - 10th-14th March 2025, this event is free for all and is a festival of film, storytelling and events for schools to get involved in and start developing the skill of empathy - free registration here.

Join this session to learn more about how to actually develop the skill of empathy in one of the most exciting school programmes and festivals you can take part in!

Facilitator:

Ed Kirwan is the Founder and CEO of Empathy Studios, an organisation using film to develop empathy, a vital human skill. A former science teacher and Head of Chemistry, Ed transitioned into filmmaking in 2018, launching The Empathy Programme in 2020. Backed by Cambridge University research, upon using the programme, teachers have identified improved behaviour, increased self-esteem and higher levels of empathy in their students. Ed also founded Empathy Week, the world’s largest empathy festival, reaching over 1.3 million students in 50 countries. He believes empathy is essential for leadership, creativity, and collaboration, calling it a "trojan horse for wellbeing and inclusion.”

Host or Publisher Hannah Wilson