Archive for the “Other campaigns” Category

That’s why organisations like CHANGEit are aiming to share good stories about youth, and better yet, support them in speaking for themselves and taking action on the things they’re passionate about.  The other day we learned about another great project that’s aiming to help young people speak out through their writing – My Voice: Write or Wrong?

My Voice is a bursary scheme that wants to help 13 to 19 year old writers develop their skills.  They are awarding nine bursaries to young people who are passionate and committed to developing their writing, can write in a variety of styles including poetry, fiction, journalism and plays and can demonstrate through their writing an ability to look at the issues of our time (Example: contemporary life for young people; freedom of expression; preventing violent extremism or young people in the media)

Bursary winners will be mentored by professional writers, have a chance to share their own writing to a large audience, receive book tokens and work with local libraries to help select great books for young people. 

If you’re a young writer or know a young person who fits the bill, tell them about this terrific opportunity.  More information can be found on the My Voice: Write or Wrong? website.  The deadline for applications is 5 October 2009 so get writing!

It really is incredible what young people are capable of. And though in this recession nearly 45% of those made unemployed are under the age of 25, there are still so many opportunities available!

Rajeeb Dey was a finalist in the 2004 Spotlight awards (the awards Common Purpose and Deutsche Bank ran just before we started CHANGEit in 2008). Later, he went on to found ESSA, the English Secondary Students’ Association, an organisation that works to give young people a voice. And more recently, he’s been working on Enternships.com, fantastic new way of connecting new enterprising organisations, with bright young talent.

Enternships.com gives students and graduates the opportunity to build employability skills by working with the world’s most cutting edge entrepreneurs and start-ups. Every corporate values entrepreneurial work experience on candidates CVs, while some of the most talented and creative minds have ultimately chosen the entrepreneurial route. Whether you want to learn how to be the next Steve Jobs or Richard Branson, or simply have a CV that stands out from the rest – check out Enternships. You never know what opportunities might be available!

Just goes to show you how young people can make a difference, Raj has been doing it for years, and you can do it too (perhaps with a bit of help from ESSA, Enternships or CHANGEit!)

Do you have a creative idea? CHANGEit is all about campaigning, but if you want to do something that’s more of a creative enterprise, you might check out IdeasTap. It’s a totally separate organisation that has launched a £50k IdeasFund which seeks to promote new and exciting ways of working between young people and organisations – driven by and for young people.

Individuals or groups can apply to the IdeasFund between 1st June to 30th June and funding ranges from £500 to £5K per project. Some categories include:

• Projects & Project Development
• Commissions & Productions
• Marketing & Communications
• Education Activities
• Multimedia Development
• New networks, partnerships and collaborations

Check it out and get involved!

(Please note that CHANGEit and IdeasTap are not affiliated. CHANGEit just likes to promote opportunities for young people’s projects!)

CHANGEit is prepping for it’s next round of awards, but there are so many opportunities available for young campaigners! The Sheila McKechnie Foundation runs a number of awards for campaigners of all ages and they’re accepting applications now.

Out of the 12 award categories, three are specifically for young people. All have slightly different criteria.

The ‘Shout Out’ Award is for young campaigners aged between 15-18, living in London. You could be campaigning alone or in a group of up to five people – whether it’s gun and knife crime, recycling in schools or bullying, we want to hear from you. This award is sponsored by The City Bridge Trust.

The Young Activist Award is targeted at young campaigners, aged 16-24, who are supported by Foyers, YMCAs and similar organisations anywhere in the UK. If you have the drive and passion to change something in your community, even if you have limited experience of campaigning this award could be for you. The Young Activist Award is sponsored by YMCA England and the Foyer Federation.

The Global Action Award supports 18-24 year olds based within the UK, who are working towards global justice, challenging the root causes of world poverty, international conflict, environmental destruction or human rights abuses. The award was set up in memory of Guy Hughes, an inspirational campaigner and activist who died tragically in a mountaineering accident in 2006. The award is sponsored by Guy’s parents, David and Lynda Hughes, individual donations, and BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development).

The awards are given to individuals who show passion, tenacity and potential to create change for the better, or stop change that will make things worse – locally, nationally or globally.

Closing date for entries to the Sheila McKechnie awards is Tuesday 30th June 2009. To enter, visit www.sheilamckechnie.org.uk, or call 020 7700 8231.

And stick around for more details about the next round of CHANGEit awards!

Supported by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), the English Secondary Students’ Association (ESSA) is going to make a students’ Manifesto for Education which it can present to policy-makers to influence the future development of education policy in England.

To gain students’ views ESSA is holding a competition for students to produce short videos in which they outline their suggestions for constructive changes to the education system. The winning entries will be featured on national television later this year, thanks to the collaboration with media sponsor Channel 4.

Young people aged 11-19 will be enabled to submit their videos for change under any one of five categories. The category titles have been left open to interpretation enabling young people to express their views on any related subject.

The categories are:
• Teaching & Learning
• Where we learn
• Enjoying Education
• Student Voice and Leadership
• Future of Education

ESSA is a national organisation run by and for young people aged 11-19. It seeks to ensure that young people have the skills and confidence they need to speak out about educational issues affecting them.

To find out more about the video competition and manifesto go to studentvoice.tv

Or contact Julia Wilson at video@studentvoice.co.uk

There is all kinds of support out there for campaigners just like you! CHANGEit has already selected the finalists for this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the word about your campaign out!

Just last week our finalists met with the team at Junction49.co.uk, a website designed for 16-25 year olds to share their ideas and campaigns to get support and followers. Terrific resources so check it out! www.junction49.co.uk

The CHANGEit team also met Battlefront Campaigner Tom, who’s working on a Random Acts of Kindness campaign and formed ‘The Do-Gooder Army’.  Tom and other Battlefront campaigners will be featured in a new Channel 4 show…but they’re looking for more campaigners!  So get on line and ‘Muck In‘ with Battlefront to see if you can share your campaign on TV. Even if you don’t have a campaign…you can still vote for your favourites!

Our friends at Bold Animation have recently completed work on a campaign for young people.

Featuring as part of Nickelodeon UK’s award-winning See Something Say Something anti-bullying campaign, they produced four documentary animation films which aim to educate kids and offer advice about the facts of bullying to support National Anti-Bullying Week.

You can watch the four documentary animations at www.nick.co.uk/saysomething.

Having interviewed young people across the UK, the films are shot from the perspective of The Bully, The Bullied, and The Witness.

In association with Childline, the aim of the season is to empower young people to speak out if they see someone being bullied; are a victim themselves and unite against bullying. Take a look and don’t forget…if you See something Say something!