This snapshot, taken on 07/04/2010, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
Last updated: 23 March 2010
23 March 2010
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown today outlined a comprehensive “youth offer” building on the huge progress made since Aiming High: a 10-year strategy for positive activities. The offer includes volunteering and community action opportunities for all young people so they can play a positive role in their communities, helping to close the generation gap.
Ministers launched the new community action scheme at the opening of a new myplace youth centre, the Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey, south London.
The Prime Minister said:
“From today, our new Youth Community Action programme will ensure the experience of being a volunteer is more appealing, relevant and rewarding for those taking part. Our objective is that it becomes a feature of the lives of the majority of young people, as commonplace as joining a sports club or even taking exams. The extraordinary passion and idealism of young people can be a catalyst in our communities. I want each of them all to be able to say that this is my community; I contribute to it; and I help make it better.”
Youth Community Action (YCA) is a programme funded and led by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, with support from the Office of the Third Sector. YCA is designed to inspire all young people in England to play a positive and active part in their community. The five pilot projects announced today will share up to £6 million over two years and will target community action among 14 to 16 year olds, as they seek to establish ways to get all young people aged 14 to 19 volunteering 50 hours during their teenage years.
The pilot areas are:
The Department for Children, Schools and Families is also investing £11 million to raise the profile of Youth Community Action more widely so all areas are better prepared to improve engagement of young people in their communities and particularly to help schools get involved.
The package will provide:
For 16 to 18 year olds, community action is already an option within Entry to Employment (soon to be Foundation Learning) programmes, providing a very different and engaging aspect of learning for a growing number of young people.
David Robinson, Chair Stakeholder Advisory Board for Youth Community Action, said:
“Community Action is the lifeblood of many third sector organisations and vital to other caring agencies. Without this support many would not be able to meet the needs of their beneficiaries. Encouraging a caring culture at a young age through the Youth Community Action initiative will sustain the development of this much valued resource for generations to come.”
Terry Ryall, v Chief Executive, said:
“We’re delighted to be working with the DCSF on its new Youth Community Action programme. v will be delivering the 14-16 element, “vschools”, which will embed a culture of community action across all secondary schools. We’re passionate about encouraging lifelong community action and our research and experience shows that young people who have volunteered are more likely to do so again.”
Tony Breslin, Chief Executive, Citizenship Foundation, said:
“The combination of voluntary social action and education for citizenship is a great force for the development of students and school. Through applying their energy to help others young people frequently discover important aspects about the nature of society: its priorities and imperatives and their place in shaping it as they see fit. We heartily support this new service for its potential to develop genuinely citizenship-rich schools and a new generation of effective citizens.”
Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Executive Director of Community Service Volunteers, said:
“CSV believes every young person should have the chance to give service to the community. US research shows that the experience significantly improves attendance and attainment. We hope this initiative will open more opportunities for young people in every school.”
Stephanie Baslington, Operations Director, YMCA said:
“The YMCA warmly supports the launch of this initiative to promote volunteering and community action amongst young people. A great deal of the work we do is about helping young people to realise their own value, and this sort of activity really brings this to the fore. Many of our centres are involved in such work, both as part of the youth community action programme and more widely. So we know from experience what a difference it can make, including when it’s part of a personalised learning programme, such as Foundation Learning. Learners can gain in confidence, skills and often a sense of purpose; and the organisations and groups that they volunteer with, from their enthusiasm, energy and commitment.”
Nick Page, Acting Strategic Director of Children's Services, Salford City Council said:
“We are delighted to be a pilot area for Youth Community Action. This will enable us to support significant numbers of young people to positively contribute to our communities as well as acknowledging their existing activities. It will be an excellent opportunity for us to celebrate the positive contributions young people make to the well-being of our City.”
Stephen Johnson, head teacher Middlecot School Kirton in Lincolnshire, said:
"I am very excited about the youth community action project and certainly feel it will be of great benefit to the students in our school in preparing them for the future and having a positive involvement in their community.”