The NYA Blog
And now, the good news
06 April 2010
How lovely to have some good news...
I’m thinking about Think Big, the new and exciting project we’re working on with O2, which was launched the other week. Think Big is O2’s social change programme with £5 million over three years for young people aged 13 to 25 who have a great idea for a community project that brings people together and promotes positive change. Undoubtedly this will help to highlight the positive contribution young people make to their communities and have a significant impact on the negative way many young people are perceived.
But I think it’s also part of an even bigger picture, or a wider movement if you prefer. Consider for a moment how Think Big complements the other youth projects we’re hard at work on at the moment – in particular The Youth of Today and Shine – to create a range of leadership and involvement opportunities for young people that is almost irresistible in its momentum.
Increasing the quality, quantity and diversity of opportunities for young people as leaders of change in their communities has to be one of the best investments we can make in our young people. Developing our young leaders is not just vital for the future health of civic life and public organisations but (as our recent work with The Young Foundation on The Youth of Today explores) for our wider society. Society needs leaders and with some of the routes young people may previously have taken no longer as widely available, projects like these that offer a safe space to explore and exercise leadership are more important than ever.
Research tells us the skills needed for leadership are the same ones that enable young people to make a successful transition to adult life. And the same ones that employers look for in the workplace – things like emotional resilience, enterprise and discipline.
So, spread the word and grasp these real opportunities for real change and real development of young lives and communities. We look forward to telling you about the programme’s success stories.
Fiona Blacke is chief executive of the National Youth Agency.