The National Youth Agency - e-youthaction no. 35, March 2008

e-youthaction no. 35, March 2008

3 Mar 2008

VOLUNTEERING

Also of interest...

Further analysis of findings from Helping Out: a national survey of volunteering and charitable giving published by The Institute for Volunteering Research and the National Centre for Social Research, reveal that most newcomers to volunteering are in their 20s and 30s. The Changing and Non Changing Faces of Volunteering recommends that initiatives to encourage more volunteering should take this into acount.

In collaboration with the Learning and Skills Council, the Student Volunteering Team at Volunteering England has undertaken research to assess the impact of volunteering in the further education sector. It reveals that an overwhelming majority of FE students and staff believe that volunteering made a positive difference, particularly in terms of skills development, career and educational aspirations. Its recommendations include the need to raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering among employers and support volunteers in reflecting upon their experiences to identify the skills they have developed.

The results of a survey into youth volunteering: attitudes and perceptions, exploring the link between volunteering and skills development, reveals that employers believe that volunteering can help young people develop their careers – but only if the activities are related to the jobs for which they are applying. The survey, carried out by Dubit on behalf of youth volunteering charity v, questioned 1,582 young volunteers, employers, higher and further education colleagues and voluntary sector organisations.

INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERING

A new Government-backed £10 million global volunteering scheme for 18 to 25 year-olds has been launched. Over the next three years the scheme, a partnership between Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and BUNAC, will sponsor 2,500 young adults from less advantaged backgrounds to do voluntary work in a developing country and raise awareness of development issues in the UK.

New research into innovations in international volunteering, published by youth volunteering charity v, reveals that empowering young people is the most important factor for innovation in youth volunteering. It includes a recommendation that volunteer programme managers, policymakers and young people should be encouraged to identify the ways in which young people can be given the space and additional tools they need to fully realise their potential.

AWARDS

Nominations are now open for BT’s Seen and Heard awards 2008. The awards, run in partnership with UK Youth Parliament, are being launched as part of BT’s Better World Campaign and aim to recognise young people who have used their communication skills to tackle an issue that is important to them. The closing date is 9 May 2008.

The winners of the 2008 Young Achievers Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony taking place in London on 27 March 2008. Winners will be drawn from a shortlist of 24 finalists across eight categories covering four areas of sport, community, arts and the environment, each within the age ranges of 16-19 and 20-25.

Nominations are now invited for the 2008 Nationwide Community & Heritage Awards. This year the Awards have been extended to encompass the theme of heritage as well as community, as part of new partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund. There are two categories for young people, one under each theme. Closing date for nominations is 28 April 2008.

LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Young people aged 14-16 are being invited to take a video or picture of something in the community that they would like to see changed as part of Picture What If?, a new competition launched by the British Youth Council. The deadline for entries is 25 March 2008.

GOOD PRACTICE

Young people volunteering in a sports setting is the focus of the latest in The NYA’s series of Youth Action & Engagement case study sets. Featured case studies include an inner-city equestrian project, a v funded programme run by a youth work project, and a sports leadership programme for young people with moderate learning difficulties. Copies can be downloaded from The NYA’s website or email ritak@nya.org.uk to request a hard copy.

CITIZENSHIP

Professor Jonathan Tonge has been appointed as chair of the new Youth Citizenship Commission. The Commission will focus on young people aged 11-19 and examine what citizenship means to them, consider how to increase their political participation and lead a consultation on whether the voting age should be lowered to 16.

YOUTH LED MEDIA

The Co-operative for Young Film Makers is calling for entries to the 2008 Young Film Makers Festival taking place at the National Media Museum on 9-10 October. Entries are invited from young people under 21. The deadline for receipt of films is 27 June 2008

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

The government has pledged £6 million over the next three years to work with youth leadership organisations to unlock the talent of young people. The money will help to encourage more young people to become leaders, develop and promote internships with local councillors and launch a national campaign to celebrate the achievements of young people who have championed causes.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Hazel Blears has announced the creation of a Social Enterprise Unit in the Department of Communities and Local Government aiming to support and encourage community groups to build strong partnerships and develop their business acumen.

TRAINING AND EVENTS

The National Youth Agency and sexual health charity fpa have developed a set of competencies for youth workers involved in sexual health work. The course, accredited through Stafford University, runs over seven days broken down into three modules and an assessment day focusing on self, theory and practice. The course is available as open training at venues in Leicester, London and Cardiff or on request. The first open training event takes place at The NYA offices in Leicester between April and September.
Envision, which supports 16-19 year olds in schools and colleges to develop their own social and environmental projects, has publsihed two booklets on engaging young people from diverse communities, and adult volunteers supporting young volunteers. It is also running a series of free seminars on engaging young people in Birmingham and London between March and June 2008. For more information ring Rachel on 020 7974 8440 or email vision@envision.org.uk
A one day conference aimed at empowering hard to reach groups to participate in two-way communication and decision making is being organised by Haymarket Events on 14 May 2008. The event, endorsed by The National Youth Agency and British Youth Council, will include workshops focusing on work with a range of hard to reach groups and participation methods. Speakers include Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children, Young People and Families.