By Young Leaders Programme participant Anabel Matambanadzo, aged 16.

In 2024 Potential Plus UK invited young people aged 13+, who identified as having high learning potential (HLP) or dual or multiple exceptionality (DME), to take part in a number of projects as part of our Empowering Young People Programme. Throughout the Young Leaders Programme, a small group of young people with high learning potential or dual or multiple exceptionality learned about traits of high learning potential, anxiety management and different methods of project planning and leadership. They took on leadership projects of their choice to make their voices heard, worked on ideas to help other young people with high learning potential and discovered how to put their new knowledge of leadership and project planning techniques into action. In this blog, Anabel describes their experience.

Making friends, playing games, learning what it means to be HLP. Coding apps, writing a novel, how did we get here?

In 8 months we have met, formed friendships, devised incredible ideas and made unbelievable progress. Looking back to the beginning of the project, I can only commend the progress that we have made as a group and remember all the amazing times we had on the way. The slightly awkward group who all first met on January 21st are now writing a novel to combat the lack of HLP representation and hope to code an app that may help young HLP people learn about themselves and manage their anxiety.

But it didn’t start with huge ideas and incredible progress. We had to start somewhere, building up the foundations to run a large-scale project. Being able to learn about the traits of high learning potential, anxiety and how to take care of ourselves at the very beginning of the project has been invaluable. Understanding how our brains work has helped us to plan our projects in the best way for each of us, keeping us happy, well-supported and engaged in realising our ideas.

While we may have been sidetracked or a little bored at times, learning about how to run a project gave us exactly what we needed to turn our ideas and creativity into action. Looking at physical reminders of our successes and the concrete reminder of our progress is so rewarding, and we wouldn’t have been able to get here without the advice and guidance of our programme leader.

Now, 8 months into the programme, it’s hard to believe that we have come so far. To be in a group writing a novel to battle the lack of HLP representation is beyond my wildest dreams. I am so grateful for this project and for my group members, and so proud of the group whose plans for an app may help so many HLP young people learn about themselves and manage their anxiety. Being able to meet many times in person has been absolutely invaluable, allowing us to fully connect with each other and get excited about our projects.

There have been so many incredible benefits to being involved in these projects, highlighted in some of the comments and quotes from our group of young people throughout the programme:

  • “Being in an environment with others with low self-esteem has helped me step up and taught me how to manage and phrase criticism”
  • “[It is] surprising and reassuring that lots more people share your experiences than you think”
  • “[I valued] challenging ableism and ableist stigma and stereotypes through being
  • together and unmasking”
  • “I’ve never heard of/done anything around HLP and this was a great opportunity”
  • “I’ve learned how to be proud of being HLP and accept that I don’t have to be perfect. I’ve gotten rid of some of the stigma from school environments that says I have to be a genius”
  • “Being here makes me feel powerful.”

Meeting new friends, project planning, practising funding pitches and being able to chase my dream of being an author all in the space of 8 months has been surreal. I thank everyone in this project for their support and hard work and wish the best to any and all HLP young people with their sights set on leadership.

It is never impossible