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Name Act for Change Together
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Funder Act for Change Fund
Act for Change Together is a new youth-led festival that celebrates and showcases changemaking, influencing and campaigning by young people who have lived experience of inequality and injustices.
The festival is two things: both a live event – it ran this year from 26-31 July – and an ongoing digital resource of unique and exciting online masterclasses, panels and a podcast. Across the 28 individual events produced by young people, youth changemakers open up conversations and offer practical solutions about care, migration, mental health, gender equality, disability, race, LGBTQIA+ rights and more.
Act for Change Together comes out of the combined drive and passion of more than 120 young people at 32 organisations across the UK who are supported by Act for Change Fund. The fund is a joint initiative between Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, working in partnership with the #iwill Fund (a joint investment between The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport). Both foundations are acting as match-funders and awarded grants on behalf of the #iwill Fund.
The festival has been co-produced by a steering group of young people and Molly Scarborough, a young activist and cultural co-producer, supported by colleague Zahra Hoccom, and the Arts Development Company. The youth steering group chose the theme of challenging and changing the ingrained narratives and stereotypes which abound around most groups of young people who encounter structural injustice. The festival spotlights young people’s changemaking skills, expertise, insights and knowledge, challenging adults to be better allies to young people and communities who need inclusion and connection – and showing them how to do it.
The original project was conceived as an in-person showcase event, but using creative online co-production, Molly and Zahra ran an online residential earlier this year that brought together the Act for Change Together steering group. The steering group, supported by the co-producers, went on to flesh out every aspect: from session content, to the website, to their Instagram account @actforchangetogether and hosting many of the events.
The downsides of not being able to meet in person were offset by some online advantages: more young people could meaningfully lead the festival planning and delivery. Young people on the steering group and those who made podcasts or led sessions were paid and recognised for their time and input. The steering group also liaised with all 32 organisations funded by Act for Change Fund, so the festival could represent the vast talent and power of a host of young people making change in so many creative ways.
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Vivienne Jackson is programme and learning manager at the Act for Change Fund, Paul Hamlyn Foundation
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More from www.actforchangetogether.org.uk
MY VIEW
By Holly Hughes, 23, Walsall
In the UK, people often assume that young people need to grow up before they can be trusted to lead change. We’re asking adults to accept us as equal partners in working for social justice, including for post-Covid recovery plans.
Our festival of youth-led changemaking inspired other young people who have experienced injustices and inequality to take action for change. It brought together a wide range of young people to plan, network and organise the week of events.
The festival enabled young people from 32 organisations to come together. There are so many issues that I and other young people care about, but we can’t tackle them all as lone individuals.
The festival showed that young people are focusing on the other issues I care about while my energy goes into my own campaign Sustainable Water Use Birmingham.
Despite already being involved with social action I learned something new at every event from other young people who were also making change.
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Holly is a member of the Act for Change Together Steering Group via UpRising, a youth organisation supporting social action for change
