Be the Change You Want to See

Students at Charters Sixth Form were encouraged to “be the change” when human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell visited to speak with the Year 12 cohort.

Opening his talk with a powerful call to action — “Don’t conform. Don’t fit in. Don’t follow the crowd. Be your own change and make a difference in the world” — he shared reflections from nearly six decades of activism.

Growing up in Melbourne in the 1950s, he developed a strong sense of justice, supporting fundraising efforts in 1967 to help young Aboriginal Australians access higher education — a scholarship that still exists today. At 18, he joined peaceful protests against the Vietnam War, witnessing first-hand how collective action can influence government policy.

Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, Emmeline Pankhurst and Martin Luther King Jr., he spoke about the power of non-violent protest to shift public opinion.

After moving to the UK in the 1970s, he campaigned for LGBT+ rights, organising a public “kiss-in” at Piccadilly Circus at a time when same-sex affection could result in arrest — a protest that helped bring about change.

Quoting lyrics from “Unorthodox” by Wretch 32, he reminded students not to follow the crowd, but to lead with conviction. Peter read the lines:

"We don't follow no crowd, they follow us
Don't follow no sound, it follows us
Go sit in hell, look down that wishing well
Unorthodox, we call our own shots".

In a lively Q&A, he reflected on moments of fear during a protest in East Germany, his pride in raising awareness of human rights abuses under Robert Mugabe, and urged young people to campaign on climate change, calling it the defining issue of their generation.

Closing the session, he left students with a final message: “Being unique is special. Stand up for what you believe.”

Our thanks to Peter for taking the time to inspire our students.