NEWS: Groundwork launches search to find local ‘Green Leaders’
Community charity, Groundwork is searching for the next cohort of young activists to become ‘Green Leaders’ and advocate for local environmental improvements in their local community.
Groundwork Green Leaders works with passionate young people who want to make a transformation in their local area but need extra support to make it reality.
The free programme, made possible by a grant of £34,920 from the Co-op Foundation’s #iwill Fund, offers young people a mentor and hands-on support for them to design, create and start campaigns, events and action groups that improve the local environment, including greenspace projects.
The #iwill Fund is a £50 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities. It supports the aims of the #iwill campaign – to make involvement in social action a part of life for young people, by recognising the benefit for both young people and their communities. Green Leaders is designed to support young people to become advocates for change in their community all while building the confidence, knowledge, and skills that lead to positive social action.
The programme is currently been run across Greater Manchester, Northampshire, London and the West Midlands for young people aged 16-20. Those who are chosen to be a part of the programme will be part of a group of a select 30 young people who share your passion for environmental action.
Given the current Covid-19 restrictions, Green Leaders will be run online in the initial stages, starting with five weeks of mentoring and support to kick-start their project, covering project design, public speaking, and media training all of which are designed to equip young people with the tools they need to advocate for change.
This is a great opportunity for young people who have a flair and passion for local social action to be supported to make real change in their local community. While the programme will be run differently due to the current climate, we are confident that the programme can offer young people a great opportunity to learn skills and build confidence to lead community projects that matter to them
Applications opened on Monday 2 November and close on Wednesday 18 November 2020.
Notes to Editors
For further information, please contact media@groundwork.org.uk or call 07793844627.
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a charity working locally and nationally to transform lives in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. We’re passionate about creating a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny and no one is held back by their background or circumstances. We help people gain confidence and skills, get into training and work, protect and improve green spaces, lead more active lives and overcome significant challenges such as poverty, isolation, low skills and poor health: www.groundwork.org.uk
About the #iwill Fund
- The #iwill Fund is made possible thanks to £50 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities.
- The #iwill Fund brings together a group of organisations who all contribute funding to embed meaningful social action into the lives of young people.
- Social action involves activities such as campaigning, fundraising and volunteering, all of which enable young people to make a positive difference in their communities as well as develop their own skills and knowledge.
- The #iwill Fund supports the aims of the #iwill campaign – to make involvement in social action a part of life for young people, by recognising the benefit for both young people and their communities.
- By bringing together funders from across different sectors and by making sure that young people have a say in where the funding goes – the #iwill Fund is taking a collaborative approach.
- Co-op’s charity, the Co-op Foundation, is a #iwillFund match-funder and delivered funding for our project.
About the #iwill Campaign
- The #iwill campaign is a collective effort involving over 900 partners from across the public, voluntary, education and business sectors with a vision to make meaningful social action part of life for 10- to 20-year olds by the year 2020, wherever they live and whatever their background.
- The #iwill campaign was launched in 2013 with cross-party and multi-sector support after research into how the business, education, public and voluntary sectors could support young people to engage in social action. The campaign is coordinated by Step Up To Serve, a charity registered in England & Wales (no. 1154588).
- HRH The Prince of Wales is Patron of Step Up To Serve and the #iwill campaign. For more information, visit www.iwill.org.uk and follow @iwill_campaign
About the Co-op Foundation
- Co-op Foundation is the Co-op’s charity. We help people challenge inequality and co-operate for change, so they can share a fairer future.
- Co-op Foundation is the leading charity tackling youth loneliness in the UK. By 2021, its Belong programme will:
- Connect and empower at least 7,500 young people to take action to tackle loneliness
- Strengthen local youth services that provide vital support and opportunities
- Engage at least 25,000 young people in a national conversation that breaks down the stigma of youth loneliness. · Co-op Foundation empowered young people to create the Lonely Not Alone campaign to us all show we care about youth loneliness. · www.coopfoundation.org.uk
About The National Lottery Community Fund
- We are the largest community funder in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people.
- We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life. · Website │Twitter │Facebook │Instagram
About the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- General enquiries o Email: enquiries@culture.gov.uk
- 020 7211 6000
- Press Office
- Media enquiries (journalists only) 020 7211 2210