UK – Vinvolved: charity V launches a new scheme

V, an independent charity championing youth volunteering in England, has launched a new youth-led volunteering scheme entitled Vinvolved.

The project, designed by and for young people, aims to make volunteering a compelling choice for 16 to 25 year olds by tapping into their passions and concerns. From April 2008, it will help 500,000 young people make a difference in their communities through a massive expansion of youth volunteering in England.

Vinvolved has named 150 organisations that have successfully applied to benefit from the scheme, including local branches of environmental conservation charity BTCV and the YMCA, many centres for voluntary services from all over England as well as networks involved in cross-regional projects. They will each receive a share of £72m (100m euro) of funding which will help them create new volunteering opportunities to appeal to young people.

Terry Ryall, Chief Executive of V, says: ?This is a programme for youth action and engagement that has been driven by young people?s desire to get positively involved in their communities. Vinvolved will literally change the face of volunteering in England and safeguard its future by giving a new generation of young people opportunities to put their passions into action to meet real community needs.?

Vinvolved will be available to young people in all areas of England and will include:
Youth Action Teams – a network of youth ambassadors to champion volunteering at a local level and inspire their peers to volunteer.
Vinvolved teams – a network of youth experts on the ground who will encourage more community organisations to open their doors to young volunteers.
Vinvolved projects – a diverse range of innovative projects that tap into young people?s passions, cares and concerns.
Vpassport – a personal online tool for young people to record their volunteering experiences and skills gained.
National and local annual awards celebrations to recognise young volunteers? achievements, starting in 2009.

Ed Miliband, the Cabinet Minister responsible for volunteering, said: ?V offers incredibly exciting opportunities for young people to turn their natural enthusiasm and passion to activities that will not only enhance their skills and experience, but benefit their communities and our wider society.

Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector which attended the project presentation, said: ?Not only will Vinvolved enable young people to pursue their instincts to help others, we are also tremendously excited about its plans to train and support 6,000 organisations across England to enable them to better involve young people in their work.?

www.wearev.com