Volunteering Matters and the #iWill Movement are delighted to announce an exciting new funding award from BBC Children in Need, supporting youth social action work in Ipswich and Blackpool. This £200,000 grant will fuel vital place-based initiatives, empowering young people to drive social change in their communities. The funding will help to further embed the work already underway in Ipswich and expand similar youth-led initiatives in Blackpool, inspired by our work in Ipswich.
Support for Ipswich
In Ipswich, this funding will build on the achievements of the Ipswich Social Mobility Alliance (ISMA), whose collaborative approach has united local partners, including Ipswich Borough Council, in championing young voices and nurturing a shared commitment to creating the conditions for young people to shape and lead change in the area. As part of this new phase, we’ll launch a Community of Practice Network for over 30 organisations, deliver youth-led ‘Hacks’ on key issues, and continue tracking progress on the town’s 25-year strategy for youth-led social change.
In Blackpool
Blackpool’s existing social action efforts will also receive vital support, particularly through collaboration with our local partner, United Youth Alliance. Drawing from the Ipswich experience, Blackpool’s youth-led initiatives will expand, increasing local participation in the #iWill Movement, recruiting new Ambassadors, and amplifying the voices of young people to create lasting, systemic change.
Driving meaningful change
As we celebrate this crucial funding from BBC Children in Need, Amanda Naylor OBE, CEO of Volunteering Matters, highlighted the profound impact this support will have on empowering young people: “We are immensely thankful to BBC Children in Need for their unwavering support in championing youth leadership. This funding enables young people to drive meaningful change, ensuring their voices shape the crucial decisions that affect their lives. Now, more than ever, it’s important that every part of our community is heard, and this support will foster youth-led transformations. We’re excited not only to deliver this vital work but also to share our insights across the sector, helping more organisations embrace the importance of youth involvement.”
This award marks an important milestone for our collaborative work in both Ipswich and Blackpool, as well as the wider #iWill Movement and Volunteering Matters, as we continue to champion youth-led social action across the UK. Together, we are working to ensure that young people’s voices are not only heard but actively integrated into decision-making processes at both local and national levels, driving meaningful and lasting change across communities.
