O2 offers young people grants for community work

The programme, Think Big, will enable 13-25 year olds to apply for a £300 grant to fund projects aimed at addressing local issues identified by the young people themselves.
 
Projects that prove to be successful will be eligible for a further cash injection of £2,500. The programme is being delivered in partnership with the National Youth Agency and UK Youth, which will manage the programme and deliver training and support respectively.
 
Speaking at the launch yesterday, Ronan Dunne, O2's chief executive, said the programme is intended to dispel negative perceptions of young people that currently exist.

"The reality is that young people are good citizens and are passionate about being part of the solution, not the problem," he said. "We're creating an opportunity for young people to reconnect with communities and societies, and use their passion and enthusiasm to benefit those communities."
 
O2 will work with around 1,000 young people across 500 projects each year, with a view to running the programme for at least three years. It has stated that it aims to impact on 100,000 young people overall. Dunne also wants at least 5,000 O2 staff members to get involved as trained mentors and role models to young people.
 
A panel of judges will decide on which projects to fund. Sixty per cent of the projects will be given to young people applying through partner charities and local youth organisations to ensure the most disadvantaged young people are included in the programme. The remaining money will be available to all young people, who can apply directly through the programme's website.
 
NYA chief executive Fiona Blacke said the programme represents a landmark partnership between a major private sector organisation and third sector groups that work on the frontline.
 
"Every day I meet incredibly inspiring young people who are prepared to stand up and work and do something, and who have overcome enormous challenges," she said. "We're incredibly proud to be part of this programme. A major international company is saying ‘we believe in young people'."