We believe in the power of youth to drive positive change. Inclusive youth social action is not only a pathway to personal growth for young individuals but also a critical component of building equitable and engaged communities. By advocating for opportunities for marginalised youth to participate in meaningful social action, we aim to create a society where every young person, regardless of their background, has the chance to lead and make a difference.
Summary: We advocate for opportunities for marginalized youth to engage in meaningful social action.
Reason why: Providing leadership opportunities to underrepresented youth fosters equity and community engagement.
- Invest in mentoring or leadership programmes to develop future leaders, particularly focusing on youth social action in SEN and alternate provision.
- Decision makers to create space and encourage young people to develop as leaders, also to support and create change because of their leadership.
- That there is a recognition that meaningful social action is beneficial to the development of young people that is distinct to educational attainment, but instead helps them to have their voices heard, to enact change and to feel powerful in their communities. This helps them to develop as individuals but most importantly to be part of their community and their place.
Recognition that youth social action is volunteering and to include this in key data and information within the charity sector.
- Levelling up and social mobility – opens up areas and opportunities that drive aspiration, hopefulness and access
- Enables communities to learn become more tolerant and understand experiences of individuals and communities that experience discrimination and or are under-served.
The London Young Ambassadors and Mental Health Ambassadors is a programme delivered by Volunteering Matters in partnership with the Mayor of London. It uses social action to enable young people to unlock their potential and make change in their community. Since 2021 we have worked with 78 schools and over 850 young Londoners.
